The Oklahoma Daily

THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S I NDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE

VOL. 94, NO. 124 FREE — Additional Copies 25¢

THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2009 © 2009 OU Publications Board

NO YOU

Low participation in Student Congress election campaigns leave many districts with little or no representation

WEDNESDAY’S STUDENT CONGRESS ELECTION RESULTS

Illustration By Amanda Turner / The Daily

WHAT’S INSIDE Were you set to take part in The Big Event?

Confused about what to do since it was rained out? Check page 7A for a Q&A with an event spokeswoman.

Oklahoma may become the first state to deregulate the public school system if new legislation passes the state House. Page 2A. Read about how one graduate student practices her religion with spells and witchcraft in this week’s Super Sooner profile on page 3A.

LIFE & ARTS Like vintage clothing? Two former students have set out to create their own line. Check out more on page 4B. ‘SuperBad’ director Greg Mottola shares his thoughts on his upcoming film ‘Adventureland’ on page 5B. Need something to do this weekend? Check out the ‘Weekend Update’ on page 8B.

Student Congress optimistic despite bare ballot • Only one of 14 open districts was contested CADIE THOMPSON The Oklahoma Daily There were no close margins or electoral sweeps this year for UOSA President and Student Congress seats. In fact, there was barely any competition at all.

With the UOSA President running unopposed and most of the Student Congress seats declared by default, most students only had to answer ballot referendums and pick their candidate for Campus Activities Council chairman.

Only business majors were able to vote for their congressional representatives because the business district was the only one contested. Nine candidates were running for seven available seats.

In total, only 27 students ran for the 39 available congressional seats, leaving

more than a quarter of the school unrepresented.

Yet, despite the low numbers, some representatives are hopeful for the future.

“We have quality, not quantity right now and I think the quality will definitely make up for quantity,” Matt Gress, social science representative and political science junior, said. “While we have fewer people to work, I think we’re are going to make do with the passionate representatives we have.”

The UOSA Constitution establishes 16 districts with a total of 48 representative seats in Student Congress. The number of seats allocated to each district is based on student population.

This election, 14 districts had open seats, and all but one of them went uncontested. In four of the uncontested districts, there was no one running for office at all.

Gress, who has been involved with Student Congress for two and a half years, said although more students have been involved in student government in the past, not all representatives have been actively involved. He said although it

would be better to have more representatives that were passionate about student government, he does not think the effectiveness of Congress will be affected.

But Congress is going to have to do more than be passionate about politics if they are going to spike student interest in student government, they are going to have to fight a sense of indifference, Brittany Pritchett, Student Congress secretary, said.

“It seems like there’s been a shift this year towards student apathy towards student government,” she said. “Honestly, they just they don’t seem to want to take on the responsibility.”

Pritchett, a geology junior, has been involved in student government for almost three years and said when she first joined, campaigns were much more intense.

“When I ran, almost every seat was contested. It was a lot bigger deal,” Pritchett said. “Just the motivation seems to be gone. I wish I knew how to incentivize people to want to join.”

But Gress is ready for the challenge.

Gress said he wants further recruit-

ment for student government next year by reaching out to colleges, student groups and by better utilizing Student Congress’ Web site.

“We really need to work on our legitimacy that includes developing a public presence that people know,” Gress said.

But students do not have to wait for a recruiting campaign to join Student Congress.

Students can still fill empty seats to be a representative or an associate by applying with the Congressional Administration Committee.

All the candidates who ran for Student Congress unopposed and the students who are elected in the business district will be sworn into office in two weeks.

After the new representatives take office, they may apply for positions within the six congressional committees.

Gress said he looks forward to working with the new representatives to bring Student Congress’ presence back to life.

“I’m very optimistic about it,” Gress said. “I’m really excited. We are just going to hit the ground running.”

SPORTS The Sooner softball team split a doubleheader with Baylor on Wednesday, dropping the first game 5-0 before rebounding and taking the second, 4-0. See the details on page 1B.

Nationally-ranked OU debaters live, argue together • Oklahoma underdogs aim to keep opponents off-balance

TODAY’S INDEX Campus Notes 7B Classifieds 6B Crossword 6B Horoscope 7B L&A 4B, 5B, 8B

News 3A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 7B Opinion 4A Police Reports 7B Sports 1B, 2B, 3B

JAMIE BIRDWELL The Oklahoma Daily

WEATHER FORECAST

TODAY

LOW 41° HIGH 58°

60%

FRIDAY

LOW 34° HIGH 60° Source: Oklahoma Weather Lab Lilly Chapa/The Daily

History junior Nick Watts and petroleum engineering sophomore RJ Giglio display their first place debate trophy.

Watts and Giglio received first place in a national debate tournament held in Austin, Texas.

RJ Giglio and Nick Watts used a somewhat nontraditional process to select each other as roommates.

Instead of looking for friends with similar schedules, Giglio and Watts looked for people who were good at arguing.

The roommates are also partners on OU’s debate team, and last week the pair won the Cross Examination Debate Association tournament, the largest collegiate debate tournament in the United States. They competed against 140 teams from colleges across the country.

Giglio, petroleum engineering sophomore, and Watts, history junior, said it’s a nontraditional approach to debate that has helped them become one of the best teams in the country.

As recently as 2002, there wasn’t a debate team at OU. But six years ago, OU President David Boren spearheaded an effort to revive the Sooner program, which was a debate powerhouse from the 1930s to the 1970s, Watts said.

Two years ago, the team won its first Cross Examination Debate Association tournament since the renewal of the program.

Watts said he was pleased with the debate squad’s performance this year.

DEBATE Continues on page 2A

EVEN

2A

ODD

News

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Nunley wins CAC election • Junior plans to focus on increasing diversity CADIE THOMPSON The Oklahoma Daily

Zach Butler/The Daily

New CAC Chair Tyler Nunley celebrates with University College freshman Melissa Mock while still on the phone receiving the news.

In past student government elections, the campaigns for UOSA president and vice president have received the most attention, but this year’s uncontested presidential election shifted attention to a lesser-known UOSA position, Campus Activities Council chairman.

The race was tight, with only a 181-vote difference, but Tyler Nunley came out victorious against his opponent Kely Van Eaton, industrial engineering junior.

For several weeks, green and blue signs have been scattered across campus. Chalkings have lined students’ paths and supporters of both candidates have attempted to rally support by reaching out to the student body.

Nunley promoted his campaign with

the slogan “Something for Everyone.” He has said his main goal is to increase diversity within CAC. Nunley, international and area studies junior, served in CAC in several positions including philanthropy chairman, event chairman for Winter Welcome Week, University Sing executive committee, assistant director of Scandals and member of the General Council of The Big Event.

He also has served as the American liaison to the International Advisory Committee and gives his time to work with the Center For Student Life as a mentor for the Freshman First-Year Experience Program.

As CAC chairman, he will take on sizeable new responsibilities. As the Executive Chairman of CAC, Nunley will preside over every council meeting and executive council meeting for a year. He will also have to meet weekly with the CAC faculty adviser and will be ultimately responsible for all the events CAC sponsors.

Gray Thomas, letters junior, was Nunley’s roommate last year and said it does not surprise him that Nunley won.

“Tyler is really legit,” Thomas said. “He is really loyal and he puts everyone ahead of himself in everything he does.”

Many educators feel their job security is threatened • Two state bills proposed to change Okla. school district obligations RICKY MARANON The Oklahoma Daily A bill in the state legislature that many teachers feel threatens their right to due process is one step from being signed into law.

On Wednesday, the state House Committee on Common Education heard arguments over the issue and passed two bills that would change the rules of how districts can fire educators.

School deregulation SB 834 would deregulate state school districts so they wouldn’t have to comply with most state oversight and mandates. Instead, most decisions would be left up to local school boards. The vote was split along party lines.

Democratic members believed the bill would

deny teachers who have been fired the right to appeal.

“This bill would deprive teachers of due process of law,” said Rep. Samuel Buck, D-Ardmore.

The bill states “a teacher shall not have the right to a trial de novo in district court.”

Oklahoma law defines trial de novo, in the case of education, as a means of appealing the school board’s decision to fire an educator by taking it to an outside judicial body for an independent review.

Under SB 834, the educator will have to make an appeal to the same school board that originally voted to terminate their employment.

“We’ve seen what the banks did with deregulation, and it didn’t work,” said Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs.

On campus, reaction to the clause wasn’t positive either.

“That’s not fair, and it sounds unconstitutional,” said Bobby Amber Clay, elementary education junior. “[School boards are] going to stick to their original decision because they are prideful and don’t want to look like they screwed up.”

Republican members believed school boards are better in touch and more responsible to their constituents, and since school boards are more local to

their voters, they are a better body to be accountable for policy making. They believed if board members were caught not doing their job, they will be dealt with in the next election.

“There is no stronger check and balance than the voice of the people voting someone out of office who they think is doing a bad job,” said Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore and co-author of the bill. “If they are good teachers, then they should not be afraid of termination.”

SB 834 also would allow the state to continue to set graduation requirements and have the final say on accreditation and certification.

If passed, Oklahoma will be the first state in the nation to deregulate school districts from state control and oversight.

The legislature also heard an equally controversial bill over teaching contracts.

Contractual issues SB 394 would give schools more time to examine their finances for the next school year before finalizing staffing decisions. The deadline for notifying a teacher on when his or her contract can be terminated would be moved from April 10 to the first Monday in June.

The debate focused on the competing needs of school districts, which want more time to set payroll, and of teachers who are afraid of being forced to find another job on short notice.

“This is taking away the ability for teachers to make sure they have a job the next school year,” said Rep. Ed Cannaday, D-Muskogee.

The bill’s co-author, Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said schools do not have enough time to examine their finances before the firing deadline.

Education students felt like their profession was again under attack in Oklahoma.

“Teachers need more than just the month of June and July to figure out what they are going to do next school year,” Clay said.

She said she knew of some schools that start planning for the next school year in mid-July.

“It was fine the way it was,” she said. “We need the extra time to plan our next move, especially if we are being fired and have to find another school in another district to teach at.”

Both bills now will move to the House floor for debate and passage, and if passed, they would proceed to the governor’s desk for approval.

The governor’s office did not return The Daily’s calls before press time.

Debate Continued from page 1A

“It’s unprecedented for a new program,” he said. “We take an untraditional approach. We get people out of their comfort zone.”

Watts and Giglio said the quick rise to the top has come courtesy of coach Jackie Massey and an unusual style of argumentation.

Each year, every debate program in the country prepares to argue for or against hypothetical policy proposals of the same theme. This year, the topic was agricultural subsidies.

Watts said most teams focus on political arguments for their positions, but he and Giglio concentrate on the philosophical aspects of the debate, often startling their opponents. Other debaters may find themselves stumbling over words or asking questions that don’t pertain to the OU team’s arguments.

“The point of the debate is to persuade the judge,” he said. “But it’s a lot of fun when the other team has no clue what you’re talking about.”

Although they’ve met with considerable success, Watts and Giglio said OU still isn’t recognized as being on the same level as other historically-dominant debate programs like Harvard, Wake Forest or Dartmouth.

“They think they’re going to debate a couple of chumps from Oklahoma,” Watts said of debaters from upper-crust schools. “And if we end up winning the debate, people have a tendency to get really angry.”

They said they think institutional bias may have factored into their most recent loss, against Northwestern University at the National Debate Tournament in Austin this week. Giglio said three out of the debate’s four judges voted for Northwestern, and he thought they may have done so because Northwestern was predicted to win going into the round.

But OU has already defeated its share of debate dynasties. Giglio and Watts beat a Harvard team twice this year, and one of those decisions was unanimous.

Giglio said Kansas, which won the National Debate Tournament this year, is OU’s biggest rival.

“Obviously Texas is a big rival,” he said. “But we beat Texas a lot.”

TEXT GREENS OR COMMONSOAK TO 47464 FOR MORE INFORMATION

WIN FREE RENT FOR A YEAR

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCURACY The Daily has a long-standing commitment to serve readers by providing accurate coverage and analysis. Errors are corrected as they are identified. Readers should bring errors to the attention of the editorial board for further investigation.

ERROR SUBMISSIONS e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666

BE A PART OF OU HISTORY.

(AND SHOW THEM THAT YOU MADE IT.)

PAY ZERO

MOVE-IN FEES

100

TH

SOONER yearbook

SCHEDULE YOUR

LAST FREE SENIOR CHANCE! PORTRAIT

Call (405) 325-3668 Final round begins April 6

BE ENTERED TO WIN FREE RENT FOR A YEAR FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY | SEE OFFICE FOR DETAILS

405.321.8877 • COMMONSONOAKTREE.COM 405.292.4044 • NORMANSTUDENTHOUSING.COM

Sooner yearbook is a publication of OU Student Media in the division of Student Affairs.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

EVEN

ODD CYAN

MAGENTA

YELLOW

BLACK

Nijim Dabbour, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu phone: 325-3666 fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Campus News

CAMPUS BRIEFS College of Law presents Diversity Day The OU College of Law will host its annual Diversity Day Friday for high school and college students interested in a future law career.

The event, which begins at 11 a.m. in Coats Hall, is geared toward prospective students from ethnic minority backgrounds, but any student interested in learning more about law school may attend, said Stanley Evans, associate dean of the OU College of Law. “The purpose is really to expose students to the fact that they can be lawyers, the fact that they can be law students and then how to get into law school,” said Evans, who will be leading a seminar on financial aid.

The day’s agenda includes informational seminars about the Law School Admission Test, the College of Law application process, financial aid and smaller sessions that focus on the needs, challenges and representation of certain minorities in law professions.

Students will also attend a mock law school class, tour the College of Law and hear a panel discussion from current OU law students, Evans said.

Diversity Day is free to all students who attend, but those who want to pre-register may do so at jay.law.ou.edu/diversityday or register at the door at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

— RENEE SELANDERS/THE DAILY

American Indian Month starts with a bang More than 50 American Indian students gathered on the South Oval Wednesday to celebrate the beginning of American Indian Heritage Month.

American Indian students have a rich history on campus and the event was designed to raise awareness of that history, said Oliver Plumley, music composition sophomore.

Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma, an American Indian fraternity founded to increase and raise awareness of retention rates among American Indian men, participated in Wednesday’s event to spread their message, said sociology junior Wes Wilson, a member of the fraternity.

Not many American Indian men attend college and of those who do, even less graduate, said Plumley, Sigma Nu Alpha Gamma member.

The fraternity tries to find new students who are going through the same unique transition as other members to promote retention, Plumley said.

“We don’t want people to get to the university and stop, we want all of our brothers to move onto something bigger and better,” Wilson said.

— LAUREN STALFORD/THE DAILY

Senior to receive Carl Albert Award John Greenert, psychology senior, will receive the 2009 Carl Albert Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, according to a press release.

Greenert will graduate summa cum laude from OU’s Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College with a 3.98 grade-point average and plans to become a physician after graduation.

The award ceremony will take place today in the Sandy Bell Gallery of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. — LAUREN STALFORD/THE DAILY

Thursday, April 2, 2009

3A

Life experiences lead student to practice Wicca • Student nullifies stereotypes about the Earth-based religion CLARK FOY The Oklahoma Daily Anna Holloway, professional writing graduate student, places colorful fabric on an alter cloth on the floor and sets candles representing the five natural elements in each cardinal direction to begin practicing her religion.

She adds a cauldron for burning incense, a chalice, dagger, wheat grain and a shell full of lavender to the alter to practice her religion, Wicca.

But these items are just Holloway’s set of tools used to practice the Earth-based religion.

“Everybody who practices it has a different form of approach, a different way of seeing that, a different way of understanding what is divine and what isn’t,” Holloway said.

Amy Frost/ The Daily The religion is one that is commonly misunderAnna Holloway, professional writing graduate student, sits next to her cloth that she made herself and uses stood and stereotyped, though, she said.

“Wicca is a religion that is centered in under- when she practices Wiccan rituals. The five candles represent earth, air, fire, water and spirit, placed facing the standing that our easiest and best contact with corresponding cardinal directions.

Creator is through creation,” Holloway said. “So to see witches and used it as an excuse to limit we make our contact to God with God’s works. Centuries of misunderstanding his contact with the people who were his support That’s what makes it Earth centered.”

Wiccans are a misunderstood religious breed, system.”

From Catholicism to Wicca Holloway said, and although some call themselves She also said she has a friend who believes she Holloway was raised Roman Catholic but said “witches,” they aren’t witches in the historical and was fired because her pentacle necklace fell out she has always been connected to nature and stereotypical sense. of her shirt.

Past events like the Salem Witch Trials have put eventually realized Wicca had always been a part But Holloway’s negative experiences have been a negative connotation on the word “witch,” and more personal than professional or legal. of her.

She worked in ministry programs at various At the age of 36, she joined a Unitarian now most think of someone who calls upon Satan, prisons around the state from 2001 to 2008 and Universalist church in Norman and found a pagan which simply isn’t true, she said.

Wiccans also practice spells but the spells aren’t said the responses to her religion were always group that met there. The group led her to realize what one might think. different.

Wicca was a suitable religion for her.

“Spells are the same thing as prayer,” Holloway “There were some people in the prison systems “I always liked animals and I always liked the said. “Just as a Christian would pray to heal a outdoors and I always liked plants and I always friend, a Wiccan will sit down and ask God to heal that were extremely supportive because I was felt that was the right thing, that there was some- a friend from a slightly different set of rituals, but bringing a lot of support to inmates who were thing right about it,” Holloway said. “It wasn’t like it is still the same request, and as far as I’m con- Wiccans and pagans of different kinds,” Holloway said. “There were other people who were just horleaving civilization and going into the wilderness, cerned it goes to the same God.” rified that I was even allowed in.” it was just realizing that living things are cool.”

While some Wiccans hide their religion, Holloway’s stumbling upon the religion is one of Intolerance still a problem Holloway believes in being open about it. the only real ways to join, she said.

Many might overlook it, but religious perseThe reactions leave Holloway feeling alone “It is not something that anybody converts you cution is still present and Wiccans are far from sometimes, but she said many have been supportto,” Holloway said. “We don’t run around convert- excluded. ing people because there wouldn’t be any point to She said she knows some people who hide their ive and she believes being open about her religion it. Either you get it or you don’t and if you get it, religion from the public because they’re afraid will only help other Wiccans.

“I am personally one of those people who you just may not know what it is.” they might lose what they’ve worked for personthinks that we are going to do ourselves in the Holloway said she has not found a religion ally or professionally. that failed to teach her something. She is also a “I know one person whose divorce decree long run more good by being out and open than by follower of American Daoism and, as she said, is specifically forbids him from associating with a hiding,” Holloway said. “And I think there is much “a student of the teachings of Jesus.” She said she certain religious institution in town,” Holloway more to be gained by saying this is who and what I doesn’t like to use the term “Christian,” though said. “His ex, who used to practice Wicca, used am, this is what I practice and this is how we relate because there are many people she wouldn’t like that as an excuse and basically went to the court to each other. I just think that is a healthier way to and told them that he was taking [the children] be in the world.” to be associated with.

THIS WEEKEND AT YOUR UNIVERSITY T hursday, Apr. 2

Gathering Fragments: Edward S. Curtis in Oklahoma | In summer 1926, toward the end of a long and distinguished career, photographer Edward S. Curtis and an assistant traveled to Oklahoma to conduct fieldwork for Curtis’ multivolume masterwork, The North American Indian. Curtis included more than 100 images of Oklahoma tribes in a subsequent volume and portfolio published in 1930. These fragmentary and often romantic images are the focus of this exhibition. Exhibit will be on display at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of art through May 17, 2009.

Friday., Apr. 3 Campus Activities Council Parents’ Weekend 2009 | stop by the CAC Parents’ Weekend Booth on the South Oval all day for more information about activities for you and your parents and of course free food! For a complete schedule, please visit http://cac.ou.edu.

Housing Fair | 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Food Court. Come by the housing fair to get more information about leasing apartments and houses in the Norman community.

OU Men’s Tennis vs. Rice | 2 p.m. at the Headington Family Tennis Center, West of the Lloyd Noble Center. Visit http://soonersports.com for ticket information.

Campus Awards Program | 4:30 p.m. in the Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center, Holmberg Hall. The Campus Awards Program recognizes individual students for outstanding achievement across the campus community and from each academic college.

Free Film: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” | 4 & 10 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Presented by the Union Programming Board and the Campus Activities Council Film Series.

Spa Night | 6-9 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Food Court. Chillax and treat yourself to free food, haircuts, massages and more at the Union Programming Board’s Spa Night. Must be a student with a VALID OU ID or accompanied by an OU student. Who Loves You, OU? Visit www.ou.edu/upb for more information and events.

Free Premiere: “Observe & Report” | 7 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Presented by the Campus Activities Council Film Series and the Union Programming Board. Rated R. 39th Annual Eve of Nations: Footprints | 7 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. The night will begin with a formal dinner featuring international cuisine, followed by a parade of nations presenting over 100 countries that our students represent along with cultural dances, and traditional music. Eve of Nations is the largest and oldest event presented by international students, and brings together over 1000 members of the OU family, as well as residents of Norman and neighboring communities. Tickets will be sold at the door for $7.

University Theatre: “Baby” | 8 p.m. in the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. Baby is a charming and romantic musical comedy with style, energy. Is there anything more exciting, frightening and utterly transformational than impending parenthood... at anytime in our lives? Book by Sybille Pearson, music by David Shire, and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. Winner of two Drama Desk Awards and seven Tony nominations, Rated PG. Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

Late Night Snacks | 9:30 p.m. in Meacham Auditorium Lobby, Oklahoma Memorial Union. Get some FREE snacks courtesy of the Union Programming Board before the 10 p.m. showing of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” Who Loves You, OU? Visit www.ou.edu/upb for more information and events.

Saturday, Apr. 4 Campus Activities Council Parents’ Weekend 2009 | For a complete schedule of events, please visit http://cac.ou.edu.

4th Annual Patrick James Frensley Memorial 5K Run | 9 a.m. the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House, 800 Chautauqua Avenue. Support the Men of Beta Theta Pi as they hold their annual Patrick James Frensley Memorial 5K Run. Log on to www.frensleyfoundation.org to register.

This event benefits the Frensley Foundation and the American Heart Association.

Silent Auction and Lunch | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the second floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union. Join us for a free lunch and basket auction that will benefit Children’s Miracle Network.

Entertainment will be provided by different student groups. Presented by CAC Parents’ Weekend.

OU Softball vs. Nebraska | 2 p.m. at the Softball Complex on Jenkins Avenue. Visit http:// soonersports.com for ticket information.

L.I.V.E: Lessening the Impact of the Virus by Edutainment | 3-6 p.m. on Walker-Adams Mall. Promoting Awareness and Prevention on the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. Free Food, Games, Music by DJ Eddie Brasco, Poetry/Prose Contest, & FREE HIV Screening provide by Guiding Right of Oklahoma City. Presented by the Black Student Association and sponsored by CocaCola, Housing and Food Services and the University Bookstore. For more information or accommodations on the basis of disabilities contact oubsa1968@ou.edu.

Dinner & Art | 5:30-7 p.m. at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Enjoy FREE food and musical entertainment while viewing the University’s vast permanent art collection in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art and the Edward S. Curtis photography exhibition currently on display. The museum is located at the corner of Elm and Boyd Street.

University Theatre: “Baby” | 8 p.m. in the Weitzenhoffer TheatreCall the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

Touch the Sky: Prairie Photographs by Jim Brandenburg | Photography exhibit on display at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History through April 12, 2009. This exhibit features the breathtaking prairie photographs of National Geographic photographer Jim Brandenburg. The photos capture the beauty and drama of the prairie ecosystem - its landscape, plants, animals and weather.

Sunday, Apr. 5 OU Softball vs. Nebraska | 1 p.m. at the Softball Complex on Jenkins Avenue. Visit http:// soonersports.com for ticket information.

OU Women’s Golf: Susie Maxwell Berning Classic | all day at the Jimmie Austin Golf Club.

Visit http://soonersports.com for more information.

University Theatre: “Baby” | 3 p.m. in the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. Call the Fine Arts Box office for ticket information, (405) 325-4101.

This University in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid and educational services. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact the sponsoring department of any program or event.

4A

Opinion

Thursday, April 2, 2009

OUR VIEW

Ray Martin, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

STAFF CARTOON

Ian Jehn - Civil engineering junior

Capel should stay put Second, there is less pressure on Capel here than there The rumors that have circulated all season might be comwould be at the Arizona. ing true.

He’s already proven what he can do with the right playArizona media outlets reported Wednesday that OU men’s ers — he reached the Elite Eight this season and basketball headcoach Jeff Capel was in the midst of negotiations to become the next coach at the OUR VIEW overachieved by reaching the second round of the tournament a year ago.

University of Arizona. is an editorial selected and debated Arizona fans are passionate, and immediate Whether or not the rumors are true, a few by the editorial board results would likely be demanded of Capel. The last things are for sure: Capel should stay put, at least and written after a thing he needs is to wind up like Billy Gillispie. until his alma mater Duke comes calling, and Joe majority opinion is Whatever salary Arizona offers Capel, Joe C Castiglione and the OU administration should do formed and approved by the editor. Our View and the powers that be should match it at worst, everything they can to keep him. is The Daily’s official exceed it at best.

There a host of reasons that Capel should stay, opinion.

With this season’s performance and a promising not the least of which is the fact that his job is one recruiting class that contains a pair of McDonald’s of the most stable in the country.

The two coaches prior to Capel were here for more than All-Americans on the way, Capel deserves a raise.

We hope all of the rumors are untrue. a decade each — Billy Tubbs for 14 seasons and Kelvin But if they aren’t, there’s more than enough reason for Sampson for 12. The latter coach left only because of multiple Capel to ditch the desert. recruiting violations.

YOUR VIEWS Column an example of pertinent journalism Kyle Williams’ Friday column was one of the most well written opinion pieces I have seen in the student paper in a couple of years.

For some unknown reason, our student paper has been laced with articles written on any idea that happens to pop into a student’s mind, whether or not it is pertinent, reasonable, current or thoughtful journalism.

Kyle’s op-ed piece took a recent survey on religion, gave us the

data, expressed his reasoned thoughts about the survey and then left the reader to come to his or her own conclusions.

He did not try to cram his opinions down our collective throats, but instead, offered us a solid piece of journalism expertise. Bravo, Kyle!

This sort of journalism is desperately needed in our student newspaper.

- BARBARA S. BOYD, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH/FACULTY, RELIGIOUS

STUDIES PROGRAM

STAFF COLUMN

University prestige depends on strategy I once had the feeling that OU is really going places. It is hard not to feel that way given the campus improvements and announcements coming from the administration.

The pace of construction is unbelievable, and the administration rarely struggles to convey just how well things are going. Endowments grow at an epic rate, scholarship opportuniJACOB ties are on the rise and JONES there are more endowed professorships. Most importantly, the quality of students is increasing with seemingly every subsequent batch of freshmen being touted as the best to date.

I, along with many others, have been caught up in the enthusiasm of recent years and subconsciously accepted the idea that all these actions will result, one day, in a university that can match up with the likes of North Carolina, Texas, Michigan and Berkeley.

I now think that outcome is unlikely given OU’s apparent strategy.

I came to this conclusion after looking through the changes in the student

body makeup, courtesy of OU’s annual fact book, interest in which was caused by stumbling upon a chart of incoming freshman’s average ACT scores over the last decade. While the average score has increased from 24.5 in 1997 to 25.9 in 2008, scores have stagnated around 25.7 since the fall of 2003 following a period of rapid increase. Furthermore, data on students in the top 25 percent of their graduating classes exhibits similar behavior, albeit with more variation.

I think the best explanation is the most obvious one. OU football re-emerged as a national powerhouse and Texas (enrollment from other states appears to have been unaffected) high school students flocked to secure their season tickets.

In response to a surge in applications following the 2000 football national championship, OU raised ACT requirements for out-of-state applicants to 26, and the metrics stabilized as the surge of out-ofstaters admitted under the more rigorous guidelines leveled off.

This was a good thing for OU, but the numbers — and anecdotal evidence — do not suggest OU is stealing students away from the region’s more acclaimed universities, which must be happening if OU’s freshmen are indeed getting smarter

each year.

Rather, I believe we have all been fooled into linking the activities of the administration — construction projects, endowed professorships and so forth — to an alleged rise in the quality of the student body and, in turn, the university. It is a classic example of correlation not equaling causation. While I won’t go as far to say the administration engineered such, I do believe it has exploited the situation.

Specifically, it has used the positive feelings about the university’s future as political capital to be spent holding down angst over tuition hikes.

Tuition and fees for 30 credit hours, unadjusted for inflation, have jumped from $2,713 in 2001 to $6,493 this year.

State appropriations per student, adjusted for inflation, did fall from $8,745 to $7,475 over the same time period, but the impact should have been negligible given a ballooning endowment and increasing ratio of higher paying out-of-state students over the same time period. Scholarships have increased as well, but students’ loan burden has more than kept pace.

The increases have paid for swanky new classrooms — largely enjoyed by those in the Price and Gaylord colleges — but have not increased the quality of dis-

cussions within those classrooms or, more broadly, the quality of education offered by our university. It seems reasonable that the efforts will be of greater value in the long run, but that means current students are effectively subsidizing the education of those who will attend many years after we have graduated. This is unjust.

Instead, I think the administration should change its strategy in four ways.

Primarily, OU should make a concerted effort to retain or even improve its position as the relative bargain it was just a decade ago. Ten years ago, undergraduate resident and nonresident academic costs were roughly 80 percent and 70 percent, respectively, of the Big 12 average. They are currently 90 percent and 85 percent.

Second, expand scholarships, especially for nonresidents and the National Merit Scholars program. Initiated by the state government in 1990, the state Regents, not OU, pays $22,000 of every regents and National Merit Scholarship.

The program, in addition to money added by OU, has been very successful in bribing both nonresidents and residents to attend. I use the word bribe because it is just that.

One only needs to talk to a handful of people on those scholarships to realize it.

OU could attract even more scholars if it were to increase its offer and, additionally, have discretionary funds available to use when competing for the very best high school students, especially those who fall just under the national merit threshold.

Third, the university should aggressively develop its image in neighboring states, so OU is as attractive to Kansas City high school students as it is to those from Dallas.

Fourth, increase the rigor of courses in certain disciplines. I don’t know the best way to go about this, but a good start would be eliminating business calculus. It needs to be done. Do it.

Then, after the quality of an OU education rises, tuition can be raised.

Given President David Boren’s prolific fund-raising ability and Bob Stoops’ continued success and loyalty, this approach would be feasible and, compared to the university’s current strategy, have a similar long-term impact, while not leaving current students paying more for the same quality of education. Admittedly, this does present a challenge.

After all, what in the world are we going to tell donors we will name after them?

Jacob Jones is an economics senior.

STAFF COLUMN

Democracy not the great system it’s cracked up to be

I N D E P E N D E N T

S T U D E N T

V O I C E

NEWSROOM DIRECTORY Meredith Simons Nijim Dabbour Jamie Hughes Mack Burke Ray Martin Zach Butler

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Assistant Managing Editor Night Editor Opinion Editor Photo Editor

Dane Beavers Whitney Bryen Steven Jones Luke Atkinson Judy Gibbs Robinson R.T. Conwell

Senior Online Editor Multimedia Editor Sports Editor Life & Arts Editor Editorial Adviser Advertising Manager

est can convince enough of the mindless masses to support their position.

In his book, “Democracy: The God That Failed,” Hans-Hermann Hoppe writes that when having to choose between monarchy and democracy, he chooses the lesser of two evils, which is monarchy.

His first support that monarchy is preferred to democracy is that the ruling monarch and ruling democrat have different perspectives on how the country is to be governed. The monarch has a more long-term perspective because he owns the country. He has pride in his country and is not tempted to bankrupt his nation because he has to build coalitions with nobles in order to stay in power.

The democratic politician has a short-term perspective because he or she does not own the country and instead is a temporary caretaker for two-, four- or six-year terms.

So the democratic politician is expected to maximize his income as quickly as possible at the expense of the capital value of the nation.

Now, the reason for pork barrel projects and printing up money makes sense because democratic politicians are supposed to make shortsighted decisions.

Hoppe also argues that in a democracy, people believe in the illusion that they have power. In a monarchy, people know that the king is simply a

O F

160 Copeland Hall 860 Van Vleet Oval Norman, OK 73019-0270 phone: (405) 325-3666 e-mail: dailynews@ou.edu

T H E The Fine Print

T H E

Mencken claims that the democrat is motivated to act with three basic motives: fear, envy and stupidity.

He asserts that the democrat is simply interested in “more to eat, less work, higher wages, lower taxes,” not what is best or right for our country. In other words, democracy is a form of glorified self-preservation. We vote for candidates who put more money in our wallets and give us more benefits.

Mencken is also skeptical of majority rule because, in reality, minority interest groups stir up majority support.

He argues, “Democracy, as a political scheme, may be defined as a device for releasing this hatred born of envy, and for giving it the force and dignity of law.” He uses the example of the 18th Amendment that outlawed alcohol to demonstrate that stupidity, envy and fear tactics are the driving force of a democracy.

Even with our supposed checks and balances, a law so against freedom and liberty was adopted into our Constitution, which ironically is a document that promotes freedom and liberty.

Mencken points out that a small group of hypocritical moralists aroused enough public sentiment to actually amend our Constitution with such a stupid amendment.

This is the battle fought every day in a democracy. It is a matter of which minority special inter-

Contact Us

Founding father John Adams sternly warned hundreds of years ago that “democracy never lasts long; it soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself.”

Does this sound familiar to our situation today?

Government pork barrel projects running amuck, resources invested in prolonged foreign wars and the financial suicide of printing up imaginary money to solve our business failures. Do you still think democracy is great?

Adams makes an interesting point: Democracy is not a good thing. Majority rule can have TARRANT terrible consequences. What if I CARTER want your property? All I have to do is get a majority of people to vote me into office or vote to approve my idea.

What prevents me from taking your property?

Surely it is not democracy. In fact, it is the law that prevents me from doing so in our country. This law derives from the Bill of Rights and particularly the Fifth Amendment.

A constitutional republic is a form of government where the rule of law prevails and not the rule of the majority as prescribed by democracy.

Much insight into this matter can be gleaned from H.L. Mencken in his book “Notes on Democracy.”

privileged citizen with significant power.

In a democracy, people believe the power rests with them. Hoppe argues that this false belief that we rule ourselves inevitably leads to the erosion of resistance to policy changes, especially taxation.

When a king proposes changes in taxation, significantly more resistance usually is raised than would be in a democracy. Think about it. We fought the Revolutionary War over the taxation practices of a monarch.

The ironic thing is we are taxed significantly more now than what King George III proposed.

This extreme taxation is justified because we can vote and elect people who decide these issues.

We can learn much from this point: Democratic tax schemes are more severe than monarchial schemes because the illusion of self-rule erodes our ability to resist.

I encourage you to inquire into this issue and to look at the two books I mentioned and other authors such as all the founding fathers, John Stuart Mill, Alexis de Tocqueville, Murray Rothbard, Robert Nozick, Albert Nock and Henry Hazlitt.

We take for granted today and tacitly assume that democracy is a good thing. I would like for you to rethink, for just a minute, that assumption.

Tarrant Carter is a philosophy and psychology senior.

U N I V E R S I T Y

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification. Submit letters

O F

O K L A H O M A

Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ou.edu.

Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily.

Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff.

The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.

News STATE BRIEFS English to stay official OKLAHOMA CITY — A measure declaring English as the official language of Oklahoma clears a Senate committee over objections that it is unconstitutional and mean-spirited.

Voter ID bill debated OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House Wednesday debated a voter ID bill that will require voters to show a form of photo identification, including a driver’s license or military ID, at the polls and extends early voting to almost a full week before the general election.

Dems criticize Coffee OKLAHOMA CITY — The chairman of the state Democratic Party says Sen. Glenn Coffee and his majority party lieutenants are being arrogant by brushing off questions about the terms of a bank loan to pay off a tax lien and details of large expenditures on campaign activity.

—AP

Thursday, April 2, 2009

5A

Cop who stopped NFL player resigns DALLAS — The police officer who pulled out his gun and threatened an NFL player with jail instead of allowing him inside a hospital where his motherin-law was dying resigned Wednesday.

Officer Robert Powell had been placed on paid leave pending an investigation of the March 18 incident.

“I made this decision in the hope that my resignation will allow the Dallas Police Department, my fellow officers and the citizens of Dallas to better reflect on this experience, learn from the mistakes made, and move forward,” Powell said in a statement issued through his attorneys.

He had stopped Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats’ SUV outside Baylor Regional Medical Center in suburban Plano after the vehicle rolled through a red light.

The officer pulled out his gun and threatened Moats with jail as the player and his family pleaded to be allowed to go inside the hospital. Powell continued writing Moats a ticket and lecturing him even after a fellow officer confirmed that Moats’ mother-in-law was dying.

Jonetta Collinsworth, 45, died of breast cancer before Powell allowed Moats to go inside the hospital.

Powell’s resignation was first reported by Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT. He later issued an apology,

and Moats said he would accept it.

“I still hope to speak with the Moats family to personally express my deep regret, sympathy, and to apologize for my poor judgment and unprofessional conduct,” he said in the Wednesday statement.

He also said he wanted to apologize to his fellow officers.

A call to Dallas police was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Dallas police Chief David Kunkle previously apologized to the family and said Powell acted inappropriately. He also lauded Moats’ restraint, noting that he did not try to seek special treatment by identifying himself as an NFL player.

Moats, 26, explained that he had waited until there was no traffic before continuing through the red light. When Powell asked for proof of insurance, Moats grew more agitated and told the officer to go find it.

According to video from a dashboard camera inside the officer’s vehicle, Moats’ wife, Tamishia Moats, and another woman disregarded Powell’s order to get back inside their vehicle, and they rushed into the hospital. After Powell yelled at Tamishia Moats to stay in the SUV, she said, “Excuse me, my mom is dying — do you understand?”

NFL/AP Photo

This 2008 photo shows Philadelphia Eagles' Ryan Moats. On March 18, Dallas police officer Robert Powell stopped Moats, now a Houston Texans running back, outside Baylor Regional Medical Center after Moats rolled —AP through a red light. Moats and his family had gotten a call saying his mother-in-law was dying.

Iran says no ‘talks’ with US envoy at international conference

Bas Czerwinski/AP Photo

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Mehdi Akhundzadeh, smiles Tuesday at the Afghanistan Conference in The Hague, Netherlands. The conference will launch a broader international commitment to the security of the region, special U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said Monday.

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran dismissed American government reports that senior U.S. and Iran envoys had a cordial — and promising — faceto-face exchange at an international conference, saying Wednesday that no “talks” took place.

The competing accounts of Tuesday’s encounter in the Netherlands appeared to reflect the different approaches to overtures to end the United States’ and Iran’s nearly 30-year diplomat standoff.

Washington has seemed eager to build on President Barack Obama’s surprise video message last month to seek engagement with Iran’s ruling clerics. Iran has — in public, at least — been far cooler to making immediate contacts, but has not fully rejected some openings in the future.

Iran’s take on The Hague conference was just as nuanced — not flatly denying that senior U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke and Iranian diplomat Mehdi Akhundzadeh met at a conference to discuss Afghanistan but concentrating on the semantics of whether official talks took place.

“Maybe this — the report on the meeting by the U.S. — indicates that the other party is hasty to take advantage of the conference,” Akhundzadeh was quoted by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

The statement noted that any exchange that occurred at the Afghanistan conference was not comparable with official talks, such as the ambassador-level meetings between the United States and Iran to discuss Iraq.

“Rest assured,” IRNA quoted Akhundzadeh, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, “that if there is a decision to have talks with U.S., like the talks on Iraq, all will be informed about it.

There is nothing to hide.”

In Washington, the State Department insisted Wednesday that Holbrooke met with the Iranian envoy. Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said there was a “brief handshake” on the edge of the conference — but stressed it was not a lengthy encounter.

“To describe it as substantive or even lengthy would be inaccurate, that is true. It was an engagement for Mr. Holbrooke,” Duguid told reporters.

Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leilaz interpreted the Iranian response as trying to deflect any

domestic suspicions of secret contacts.

The issue of outreach to Washington is particularly sensitive before the June 12 presidential elections. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is seeking another four-year term, is careful not to anger his hard-line base with the suggestion of a quick outreach to the Obama administration.

“Iran is carefully approaching the issue since confirmation of the meeting will have consequences inside Iran and the Islamic World.

For more than one generation, Iran has portrayed the U.S. as the main enemy,” he said. “Anti-American slogans by Iran will last for years even if the two countries resume ties.”

—AP

6A

News

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Obama, Brown predict G20 deal to fight recession JANE WARDELL Associated Press

LONDON — Doggedly optimistic in the face of doubts, President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown predicted Thursday’s emergency G-20 economic summit would produce a significant global deal to tackle the deepening worldwide recession.

Others weren’t so sure. France warned on Wednesday that neither it nor Germany would agree to “false compromises� that soft-pedal a need for tougher financial regulation to curb abuses that contributed to the spreading chaos. And outside the carefully scripted meetings, protesters smashed bank windows and pelted police with eggs and fruit.

Thousands surged into London’s financial district, blockading the Bank of England and breaking into a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Elsewhere, however, inside the meetings, Obama said differences among the presidents and prime ministers of the Group of 20 rich and emerging countries, were “vastly overstated.� “I am absolutely confident that this meeting will reflect enormous consensus about the need to work in concert to deal with these problems,� said Obama, who is under pressure to make a good showing in his first major international appearance.

With economic chaos spreading, Brown, the host of the summit, predicted agreement on a coordinated strategy, including a possible $100 billion fund to finance global trade, tighter financial rules and action to support economic growth and job creation.

G-20 leaders are also in general agreement on a plan to double the money available to the International Monetary Fund, to some $500 billion, to help emerging countries.

Consensus on further measures is by no means clear.

Brown initially trumpeted the gathering as “a new

Bretton Woods — a new financial architecture for the years ahead.� But the meeting so far bears little similarity to the 1944 New Hampshire conference where the eventual winners of World War II gathered to set postwar global monetary and financial order.

Washington has eased off on its push for other governments to pump more money into economic stimulus programs after heavy opposition from European countries, who contend their bigger social safety nets make more spending unnecessary.

Germany and France have instead campaigned for tougher rules to restrain financial market excesses.

That disagreement has lowered expectations for the London summit and weakened confidence in the world’s ability to quickly pull out of the downturn.

Global trade is plummeting, protectionism is beginning to make inroads and unemployment is rising.

French leader Nicolas Sarkozy, who had earlier implied he might walk out if key demands on tighter regulation were not met, presented a more conciliatory stance at a joint London news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying he had “confidence in Obama.�

He still warned, however, that France nor Germany would reject “false compromises� and considered concrete steps on tax havens, hedge funds and ratings agencies crucial.

Paris and Berlin want definitive agreements on a crackdown on tax havens and action on other regulatory issues, rather than simple commitments to reform. The summit is also expected to consider lightly regulated hedge funds and how to clear bank balance sheets of shaky securities.

Sarkozy said that “without new regulation there will be no confidence. it’s a major non-negotiable objective.�

Merkel said both she and Sarkozy had come to London “in a very constructive mood.� But she said, “We do not want results that have no impact in practice.�

Even free trade remains the subject of potentially bitter dispute.

Chris Harris, Pool / AP Photo

President Barack Obama shakes hands with Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London Wednesday, after a joint news conference. President Obama sought Wednesday to rally the world’s top and emerging powers to help cope with a global economic downturn, saying, “We can only meet this challenge together.�

In their meeting in November, the G-20 members vowed to avoid protectionism that could stifle trade.

But since then, 17 have acted to pass subsidies to protect their own industries or limit imports, according to the World Bank.

On Wednesday, leaders met in a series of bilateral meetings behind closed doors to try close the gap on key issues. They assembled for a formal dinner Wednesday evening before business meetings on Thursday.

Another growing concern for the conference is the plight of developing countries, amid growing fears that the heavy toll exacted by the global economic crisis on those nations could come with a heavy human and political toll.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has written to leaders to urge them to approve a $1 trillion stimulus plan for developing countries and urge the G-20 countries to back away from damaging anti-trade policies.

Mexico trying harder to catch smuggled US guns African adoption trend continues to grow in US ALEXANDRA OLSON Associated Press

MEXICO CITY — Try to bring a refrigerator into Mexico in the back of your pickup, and you are almost certain to get stopped by Mexican customs officials.

Stick a couple of AK-47 rifles in your trunk, and chances are you’ll whiz right through.

Now Mexico is owning up to its leaky border as it launches a new program to monitor vehicles entering the country. The goal is to weigh and photograph southbound cars and trucks, in hopes of snaring more gun smugglers.

As the Obama administration promises a crackdown on the illegal U.S. weapons trade that supplies the drug cartels, Mexico is acknowledging shortcomings on its side of the 2,000-mile border. “Security concerns require a customs overhaul,� Alfredo Gutierrez Ortiz, who oversees border checkpoints as director of Mexico’s tax collection agency, said in an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. “Today, passenger vehicles really enter without being inspected.�

Mexico checks only 10 percent of the 230,000 vehicles that cross the border each day, according to the federal Attorney General’s

Office. By weighing cars to see if they are unusually heavy, and running license plate numbers through a database of suspicious vehicles, the government hopes to catch more hidden contraband.

The United States has long weighed and checked the license plates of northbound vehicles, but the technology is new to Mexico, which is installing it at all customs checkpoints. It was introduced last week at Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from Brownsville, Texas, and should be added along Mexico’s border with Guatemala by year’s end.

Such a systematic effort would be a big improvement: Inspections are now mostly determined by lights that randomly flash red or green. Frequent travelers say it is rarely red.

Inside Mexico, strict gun control laws prohibit sales of weapons with calibers higher than a .38 handgun. Even to buy those, citizens must get permission from the Defense Department.

North of the border, however, the cartels simply pay straw buyers to pick up weapons at gun shops, gun shows or flea markets, then resell the arms to smugglers.

The ATF says it has traced up to 95 percent of guns seized at scenes of drug violence in Mexico

TULSA ARMS SHOW

Meet Dutch Van Kirk, Enola Gay navigator. Sell or trade your guns.

Tulsa Fairgrounds – Sat: 8-6; Sun: 8-4. Tell your Friends! *** Buy Before New Gun Laws!! ***

www.tulsaarmsshow.com

to U.S. commercial sources.

These weapons are increasingly higher-powered, including .50 caliber Barrett rifles and ammunition that can pierce the armor of Mexican soldiers and police. “A year ago, we never saw those guns going south into Mexico,� said Tom Mangan, a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “Now we refer to it as one of the weapons of choice.�

Mexico’s modernization effort coincides with President Barack Obama’s pledge to dispatch nearly 500 more federal agents to the border, along with X-ray machines and drug-sniffing dogs, both to stop the spillover of Mexico’s drug violence and curb gun smuggling.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Attorney General Eric Holder will be in Mexico Thursday to reinforce the U.S. commitment in talks with their Mexican counterparts.

Experts are skeptical about their chances of slowing the weapons supply. Gun runners easily smuggle thousands of weapons in small numbers at a time, tak-

ing them apart and hiding them in suitcases or even inside televisions and DVD players. These weapons wouldn’t necessarily be detected by weight. “If the car has no criminal record, and is apparently legal, it will not necessarily be stopped and checked,� said Georgina Sanchez, a gun trafficking expert with the Mexican think-tank Collective for the Analysis of Security and Democracy.

Smugglers also can avoid checkpoints entirely, carrying weapons south along the same desolate corridors that bring drugs and migrants north.

And while cartels get most of their high-caliber assault rifles from the U.S., they are turning to Central America for other military-grade weaponry like grenades and even the occasional rocket launcher. “You’re seeing truly militarytype guns, like grenade launchers,� Mangan said. “They’re not coming from the U.S. The hand grenades that are being used, you’re looking at that stuff migrating up from Central America.�

CELEAN JACOBSON Associated Press LILONGWE, Malawi — Madonna’s efforts to adopt two youngsters from Malawi have put her in the media spotlight. But she isn’t alone: a growing number of Americans are bringing home children from Africa as countries like China and Russia cut back on adoptions by foreigners.

The increase — particularly in Ethiopia — comes as the AIDS epidemic ravaging the continent leaves more orphans in impoverished countries without relatives to care for them.

Americans adopted 1,725 Ethiopian children in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2008, about 70 percent of all U.S. adoptions from Africa, according to the State Department. The year before, 1,255 Ethiopian children were adopted by Americans.

While experts don’t attribute Africa’s growing popularity among adoptive parents to a celebrity factor, they do say high-

profile adoptions by the likes of Madonna and Angelina Jolie have raised awareness of the availability of orphans on the continent. “One of the good things about the Madonna adoption or Angelina Jolie, those adoptions brought the need to the attention of Europeans or Americans,� said Thomas DiFilipo, president of the Joint Council on International Children’s Services. “And it brought the possibility (of adopting in Africa) to people’s attention.�

Wes Stout, 41, who with his wife Kristin, 37, has adopted two children from Ethiopia agrees. “I give some of the popularity of Ethiopia to her celebrity influence,� he said of Jolie, whose daughter, Zahara, was adopted from the north African country in 2005, the same year the Stouts adopted their daughter, 3-year-old Kylia.

At that time, the Stouts’ wait was less than a year. When they brought their son, 9-month-old Solomon, home six weeks ago, it was after an adoption process that took two years.

News

Thursday, April 2, 2009

7A

New Miss Hispanic OU crowned • Sophomore takes “We’re a growing title in second year minority and we’re going to be the ones of competition RENEÉ SELANDERS The Oklahoma Daily

Lilly Chapa/The Daily

Zoology senior Amanda Perez crowns physical therapy sophomore Laura Garland during the Miss Hispanic OU pageant Tuesday evening. Perez won the title in 2008 and passed it on to Garland.

The newly crowned Miss Hispanic OU is already taking up the causes she championed during the pageant, with plans to begin discussions with administrators about Hispanic student recruitment at OU. Laura Garland, physical therapy sophomore, was crowned Miss Hispanic OU 2009 Tuesday night at the Hispanic American Student Association’s scholarship pageant. In addition to winning the title, a $1,000 scholarship and Best Cultural Dress Presentation, Garland will represent and serve OU’s Hispanic community as Miss Hispanic OU. During her reign, Garland said she hopes to implement her platform L.E.A.R.N., which stands for Latinos Empezando a Reclamar Notabilidad (Latinos Beginning to Reclaim Notability).

Since The Big Event was rained out, organizers have received a deluge of questions about the philanthropic event’s new date, April 18. Organizers created a list of common questions and answers in an effort to reach as many volunteers and potential volunteers as possible.

and volunteers.

Am I still going to the same volunteer site?

• The Big Event if currently working to determine how many volunteers who originally signed up will be able to help on April 18th. A new volunteer count will be determined by April 6th, and if capacity allows, we may or may not open participation in The Big Event to new volunteers.

What if I can no longer participate?

• If you are in a group, please let your group leader know as soon as possible. The group leader is responsible for contacting The Big Event with a final volunteer count by Friday, April 3.

What do I need to do if I am a group leader?

• The Big Event is contacting group leaders as quickly as possible. If you have not yet received a phone call or e-mail, you will be in the coming days.

• Please let us know how many people in your group are still able to participate by Friday, April 3. Group leaders and individuals may contact The Big Event via phone at 3257912 or via e-mail at bigevent@ou.edu.

• We will be contacting all group leaders again during the week of April 6th to re-confirm site locations, supplies

Laura Garland, physical therapy sophomore “Looking around campus, you never see drives on diversity, and I just feel that by bringing in more Hispanics ... that not only helps the university, but helps us,” Garland said.

Hispanics comprise 4 percent of OU’s student body, according to the 2008 OU Factbook. Garland’s platform focuses on increasing the number of Hispanic students at OU and also educating high school students on oppor-

NOT A QUITTER

BIG EVENT Q&A

• The Big Event is working to confirm all sites, and our contacts are eager to still receive help on the new date. We do not anticipate many changes, but we will be communicating any necessary updates or relocations to the group leaders as needed.

to be the leaders some day, so I feel that education is what we need.”

tunities for scholarships and financial aid.

“We’re a growing minority and we’re going to be the ones to be the leaders some day, so I feel that education is what we need,” she said.

Garland herself is already a leader in many campus organization related to her major and culture.

Claudia Morales, staff adviser for the Hispanic American Student Association, said she believes Garland represents the community well.

“I would like to congratulate our new Miss Hispanic OU 2009,” Morales said. “I look forward to watching Laura grow in this new leadership position.

She has the opportunity to be a role model within the community both on and off campus.”

Garland was a contestant in the 2008 pageant, and she said though her success comes a year after she first competed for the title, the experience has taught her the value of perseverance, Garland said.

“You’re not always going to succeed the first time you do something, that’s just life,” Garland said. “So taking those imperfections and just learning from them, and succeeding in the end is one of the greatest feelings ever.”

What if I want to be a volunteer to participate on April 18th, but I never signed up to volunteer on March 28th?

What if I was signed up to volunteer on March 28th and missed registration?

• The Big Event will be having additional registration days the week of April 13th. If you are already registered to participate as an individual or with a group but you did not officially register in Beaird Lounge, you may finalize your registration and pick up your T-shirt that week.

• The Big Event will be contacting all groups and volunteers via e-mail with more information concerning times and locations for additional registration days as the event approaches.

Who can I contact with more questions?

• The Big Event staff is working hard to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to call us at 325-7912 or e-mail us at bigevent@ou.edu.

— Clara Mitcham/The Big Event spokeswoman

Slumdog Millionaire R 12:50 4:30 7:25 10:00

Benjamin Button PG13 1:00 4:15 7:45

TWILIGHT PG13 12:55 4:45 7:20 9:50

Bedtime Stories PG 12:40 3:00 5:05 7:10 9:45

Revolutionary Road R 12:45 9:40

Bolt PG 12:30 2:55 4:55

Frost/Nixon R 4:00 7:00

Underworld 3 R 7:30 10:00

James Cornwell/ The Daily

Mohammad "Mo" Davani, owner of Norman Hookah Bar, blows out smoke from his hookah. Davani, former owner of International Grocery and Hookah Bar, moved into his new location next to the Opolis on Crawford St. on Saturday.

Davani is one of many Oklahomans affected by increased tabacco taxes. See the original story online at OUDaily.com

8A

News

Thursday, April 2, 2009

WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: LONDON — President Barack Obama said Wednesday he’s taken enough flak for his college basketball selections and is not about to wade into European soccer — or, as he correctly called it in London, “football.”

A reporter asked Obama about his picks for the upcoming World Cup qualifier between England and Ukraine. Obama, laughing at himself as he stood beside British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, balked. He noted his college basketball predictions had “stirred up all kind of controversy.”

“The last thing I’m going to do is wade into European football,” Obama said, using the European name for what’s known as soccer in the U.S. “That would be a mistake.

I didn’t get a briefing on that, but I sense that would be a mistake.”

The president went 1-for-4 on Final Four teams in his NCAA tournament bracket, hitting with North Carolina’s Tar Heels but losing with Louisville.

The split left Obama in the bottom 47 percent of the more than 5 million fans who entered ESPN. com’s pool. After correctly choosing 14 teams to reach the round of 16, his bracket ranked in the top 40 percent.

Obama picked North Carolina to win Monday night’s championship game. His bracket also included Louisville, Pittsburgh and Memphis making the Final Four.

The geek-in-chief didn’t miss a chance to give technology to new friends.

Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II an engraved iPod during his visit to Buckingham Palace. The portable music device came with headphones and already loaded with 40 songs, all classic show tunes — including several from “Camelot,” based on the King Arthur legend, and “My Fair Lady,” set in London.

The president and first lady also gave the queen a rare book of songs signed by “The King and I” composer Richard Rodgers.

The iPod also included photos and video from the queen’s visit to Washington and Virginia in 2007.

It’s not the first time Obama has given a British leader a tech-based gift. When Brown visited the United States, Obama gave him 25 of his favorite movies on DVD. (Never mind the DVDs didn’t work when Brown took them home because they were meant for use only in North American players.)

Obama is a known technology geek. He successfully fought to keep his mobile e-mail device and aides keep his iPod updated.

In return, the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, gave the Obamas a signed portrait.

Obama says his favorite part of England is its people. Oh, and the queen isn’t too bad, either.

“There is just an extraordinary affinity and kinship that we have.

We owe so much to England; that when you come here there’s that sense of familiarity, as well as difference, that makes it just a special place,” Obama said, seeking to repair a perceived slight against the United States’ close ally.

During Brown’s visit to the United States, the British press suggested Obama didn’t give their leader proper respect; Obama opted for a familiar Oval Office chat instead of the kind of formal news conference afforded some leaders.

In recent weeks, the White House has made a concerted effort to repair that perception.

“There’s one last thing that I should mention that I love about Great Britain, and that is the queen,” a smiling Obama said. what the queen stands for and her decency and her civility, what she represents, that’s very important.”

Brown kept pace: “Well, I know the queen is looking forward to welcoming you and she’s very much looking forward to her discussion with you.” Obama and Gordon discussed the global financial crisis. Obama and the prime minister’s sons talked dinosaurs.

—AP

COME FOR THE SUMMIT, STAY FOR THE RIOT

AP Photos

ABOVE: British police in riot gear face protesters in central London’s City financial district, during clashes, Wednesday. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests.

RIGHT: A protester throws an object through the already broken window of a Royal Bank of Scotland branch in London’s financial district Wednesday.

none of your

numbers just are numbers.

At U.S. Cellular,® we believe every number’s important.

That’s why we have My Contacts Backup for free.

So you can save, store and even transfer your numbers if you get a new phone. getusc.com

My Contacts Backup: easyedge Pay-As-You-Go users who incur data access charges for My Contacts Backup while roaming should dial 611 for a bill credit. ©2009 U.S. Cellular.

Sports

Steven Jones, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu phone: 325-7630, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

1B

Softball

Sooners split series with Lady Bears 2-6 in the double-header, said the key to the offense was getting the leadoff hitters on base.

“Once you get the leadoff hitters on, you can just keep going and going from there,” Long said.

OU’s defense tightened up in the second game, AARON COLEN The Oklahoma Daily committing no errors.

OU was unable to get its offense in sync in the OU’s offense came alive in time for the Sooners first game of its double-header against the Baylor to halt a three-game skid and defeat the Baylor Bears, managing only four hits and no runs. The Lady Bears 4-0 in the second game of their dou- lack of offense ended up costing the Sooners’ the ble-header after losing 5-0 in the first game. game, as they lost to Baylor, 5-0.

Senior pitcher D.J. Mathis started for OU and “We [did not have] one part of our game pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only working for us,” Gasso said. “If you have two of six hits and no walks in the game. your three working for you, then you’ll probably “D.J. is working through some tough stuff,” be pretty successful. We didn’t have pitching, head coach Patty Gasso said. “I have tremen- hitting, or defense working for us in the first dous respect for this kid and what she’s going game.” through, to try and spark this team and get us Freshman pitcher Allee Allen started the game turned around.” for the Sooners, but struggled early on, giving Mathis said she still is up five hits and two runs working to get back to 100 in 2 2/3 innings of work percent on the mound. before she was replaced “We’re just trying to figby freshman Kirsten ure out how to get me Allen. back from the things I’m OU also gave up one going through with my unearned run while Allee arm,” Mathis said.

Allen was in the game, Freshman designatand the score was 3-0 ed player Katie Norris when she left. Allee Allen scored the first run of the picked up the loss and night for OU in the secdropped to 12-2 on the ond game, leading off the season. second inning with a solo Kirsten Allen didn’t home run. fare much better against In the fourth inning, Head coach Patty Gasso the Bears, giving up two the Sooners scored three more runs off six hits in runs on three hits and 4 2/3 innings. one error. One run was scored on a fly ball from The Sooner defense didn’t do their pitchjunior shortstop Amber Flores, then senior first ers any favors by committing numerous costly baseman Samantha Ricketts hit a two-run double errors. OU’s four errors were the most the team to make the score 4-0. has committed since Feb. 18 against Stephen F. Freshman shortstop Karolyne Long, who went Austin. The team had five errors in that game.

• OU drops first game 5-0, able to win the second 4-0

“We [did not have] one part of our game working for us ... We didn’t have pitching, hitting, or defense working for us in the first game.”

Amy Frost/The Daily

Sophomore right fielder Chana’e Jones attempts to field the ball as Baylor first baseman Alex Colyer (13) slides into second during the first game of the double-header Wednesday evening. The Baylor Lady Bears shut out the Sooners 5-0 in the first game of the doubleheader. OU won the second game, 4-0.

OU was never able to string together enough hits to make a serious threat at scoring, never getting more than one hit in any single inning.

Baylor pitcher Whitney Canion made few mistakes, only walking two batters in her complete

game win.

OU is now 28-11 and 5-3 in the Big 12.

The Sooners will stay in Norman this weekend and host the Nebraska Cornhuskers in a twogame series, starting at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Men’s Basketball

Capel linked to Arizona coaching vacancy ERIC DAMA The Oklahoma Daily The East Valley Tribune is reporting that OU head coach Jeff Capel is the leading candidate for the coaching vacancy at the University of Arizona.

The Tribune reported on Wednesday, citing an anonymous source, that Capel and the school are in contract negotiations, and that Arizona hopes to wrap up the deal within the next few days.

Meanwhile, the Tulsa World has reported a source close to the OU program said Capel has not been in contact with the Arizona program.

OU men’s basketball spokesman Mike Houck said the athletics department doesn’t “comment on job openings at other schools.”

Arizona, which was coached by Lute Olson for 25 years, went 21-14 last season with Russ Pennell, the interim head coach, at the helm.

The Wildcats barely made it into the NCAA Tournament as a No. 12 seed, advanced to the

Sweet 16 before being demolished by Lousiville, head coach.

Following a rebuilding season his first year, dur103-64.

Capel, a four-year starter at Duke from 1994-97, ing which Capel’s squad recorded a 16-15 record, first broke into coaching as an assistant at Old the Sooners, led by then-freshman Blake Griffin, Dominion from 2000-01. posted a 23-12 record en route to a first round vicHe served as an assistant at Virginia tory in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Commonwealth for one year before becoming Following that season, the Rams’ head coach for four amidst speculation that Capel years, from 2002-06. was leaving for another coachWhen Capel was promoted ing job, Capel and OU reached to the head coaching job at a deal that extended the former Here’s a look at Jeff Capel’s coaching VCU, he was the youngest head Duke player’s contract through record at his different schools. coach in Division I basketball at 2014. the time at 27 years old.

This year, with star players Virginia Commonwealth (Four At VCU, Capel posted a 79-41 Griffin and Big 12 Freshman of years): 79-41 record, and in 2003-04, his the Year guard Willie Warren, OU (Three years): 69-33 team won the Colonial Athletic Capel directed his club to a Association tournament, send30-6 record and an appearance ing his Rams to the NCAA tourin the tournament’s Elite Eight, nament for the first time since 1996. where they were ousted by No. 1 seed North Capel has spent the last three seasons as OU’s Carolina.

CAPEL’S CAREER

Michelle Gray/The Daily

Head coach Jeff Capel hangs his head during OU’s game against North Carolina Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. The Sooners lost, 72-60. Capel is rumored to have been in contact with the University of Arizona.

2B

Thursday April 2, 2009

Sports

Women’s Gymnastics

Sidelined by injury, top recruit eager to compete attention of her two coaches often placed exclusively on her. When she was finished with practice, she did home schooling.

“In the gym, it became so much,” she said. “My body was beaten up. I would try telling [my coaches] ‘look, it’s too much.’

They were like ‘No, you have to do more.’

My life became so wrapped up in it.”

KELSEY WITTEN But Natasha was never one to comThe Oklahoma Daily plain.

“She never complains about anything,” Natasha Kelley did everything right. The Peggy Kelley, Natasha’s mother, said. “Even freshman from Katy, Texas, started gym- if she was injured and no matter what type nastics as an energetic 3-year-old at Elite of a day she was having, we never knew Gymnastics in Baton Rouge, La. Soon, what was going on or what she was thinkshe was one of the best in Louisiana gym- ing.” nastics, winning five state championships So Natasha pushed forward as talk cirbefore she even hit her teen years. culated in the online gymnastics commuWhen Natasha’s talent outgrew her gym nity that Natasha’s coaches at Stars, Dan and coaches at age 13, her parents chose and Ashley Baker, pushed their gymnasts Houston, Texas, and Stars Gymnastics as too hard. But Natasha made the U.S. World the place that could further their daugh- Team in 2006 after a second place finish at ter’s meteoric rise in the sport. the U.S. Championships, and traveled to “We knew she had certain talents, and Aarhus, Denmark, where she and the team if she just got the right coaching, we could won a silver medal and Natasha qualified see her reach her full potential,” Troy for floor finals. The Olympics were less Kelley, Natasha’s dad, than 20 months away. said. “We had a good At the 2007 U.S. idea she’d make a Championships, good elite gymnast.”

Natasha slipped to Her parents 10th in the all-around. were right. At Stars, When championships Natasha qualified to rolled around the next compete at the elite year, just two months level and made her before the Olympic first U.S. National Games, Natasha Team. In 2005, she wasn’t there at all. won the U.S. National She had left Stars and Championshipsjunior quit elite gymnastics division, a title often for good, choosing to known to launch the end any shot at the international and 2008 Olympic team.

Olympic careers of “You almost feel gymnasts, who must like you’re throwFreshman Natasha Kelley ing everything away be 15 or younger, who win it. Carly that you’ve worked Patterson won it in for, especially with 2002, two years before she went on to win the Olympics around the corner,” Natasha the 2004 Olympic all-around title. Nastia said. “At the same time, it was my decision.

Liukin won it in 2004, four years before It was what I wanted to do. I guess I had she won the 2008 Olympic all-around title. already accomplished more than I thought Natasha’s future looked bright.

I would ever accomplish, and none of that But there was more to her story. Natasha can be taken away from me.” had competed at nationals that year, just Natasha has little to say about the end six weeks after breaking her hand. She of her elite career and her time at Stars in trained on her good hand, doing beam and late 2007, other than Dan Baker “has a yellfloor tumbling with one arm, leading up to ing problem” and she “needed a change.”

Nationals in the summer of 2005.

Her parents say they always let gymnastics After she won, Natasha said expecta- be Natasha’s choice, and when she finally tions increased, and her coaches began came to them about her training, they pushing her harder, and the injuries kept offered to take her to another elite gym to coming. She found herself in the gym pursue the Olympics. But that wasn’t what from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day with the Natasha wanted.

• Natasha Kelley took unconventional road to Oklahoma

“There was something about [OU] that I just liked so much. I think I just fit in with everyone a lot better.”

Amy Frost/The Daily

Freshman gymnast Natasha Kelley is a highly recruited gymnast for OU, but has been out all season due to an injury to her Achilles tendon. Kelley is still able to do basic workouts, but will take a redshirt this year.

“It was bad timing as far as the Olympics go,” Troy Kelley said. “It just wasn’t meant to be, and Natasha accepted that.”

Natasha left Stars for another Houston gym, Cypress, where she trained in prepa-

ration for college gymnastics. There, she had teammates her own age and the constant pressure of elite gymnastics was finally gone. And the college offers began rolling in by the dozens.

More than 30 schools were interested in the former world and national team member who would enter college in the fall of 2008.

“Everyone recruited her because she was one of the best in country,” OU head coach K.J. Kindler said. “She was obviously on the top of our list.”

However, growing up in Baton Rouge and with most of her family in the area, Louisiana State University had always seemed like a logical place for Natasha to attend. But Natasha gave OU and Kindler a chance at recruiting her when she visited Norman.

“There was something about [OU] that I just liked so much,” she said. “I think I just fit in with everyone a lot better. I really liked the coaches and the atmosphere, just everything.”

After the recruiting trip, Natasha and her parents were convinced OU was the right place.

“We’re Sooners 100 percent,” Troy Kelley said. “We fell in love with Oklahoma and the people there, and we love everything about it. We’re Sooners 100 percent through and through.”

OU felt right for Natasha, but she still had to get used to being in a classroom after 10 years of home schooling and adjust to the more relaxed, team-oriented atmosphere of college gymnastics. Kindler encouraged Natasha to enroll in summer classes to help her make the adjustment to school, which she did.

The gymnastics part came naturally, as it always had. But just when it looked like Natasha was about to return to competitive gymnastics, she tore her Achilles tendon on a tumbling pass before OU’s regular season was set to begin last fall. She was forced to redshirt her freshman year due to the injury.

“It was heart wrenching to watch her have to come back [from injury],” Kindler said. “She’s not a rehab person, not patient.

She wants to come back and wants to do it now.”

Although she can only contribute by cheering from the sidelines as OU’s team aims for a Super Six berth at the NCAA Championships, starting with the Regional Championships on Saturday, Natasha and Kindler eagerly await the star recruit’s college debut.

It’s far from the Olympics, and despite everything she’s been through, it’s all Natasha Kelley really wants these days.

“It gets kind of discouraging to go to all of these meets now and be on the sidelines,” she said. “I just wish I was out there so bad.”

Sports

Thursday, April 2, 2009

STAFF COLUMN

SPORTS BRIEFS

READ THIS!!!!

Amy Frost/The Daily

Head coach Sherri Coale cuts down the net after the Sooners’ Elite Eight 74-68 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers Tuesday. The Sooners will play Sunday in the Final Four for the first time since 2002.

OU’s Final Four run worth watching I don’t like watching women’s basketball.

There, I said it. I feel better already.

I don’t like that women’s games usually features lower shooting percentages, higher turnover rates and virtually no dunks.

Personally, that kind of game just isn’t for me.

And I think that’s okay.

This is something I’ve struggled with for quite some time. Especially recently, serving as sports editor, I’ve felt the need to like all the sports. I’ve felt like I wouldn’t be giving all the teams the coverage STEVEN they deserved if I enjoyed one more than the other.

JONES I’ve slowly realized that’s simply not the case.

I can’t help that I don’t really enjoy women’s basketball. And I think a lot of people feel the same way as I do.

3B

But this column isn’t about what I like or what I don’t like. This column is about the importance of what OU’s women’s basketball team is about to do.

On Sunday, the Sooners will be in St. Louis for a game against Louisville for a shot at an appearance in the National Championship game. I think that’s a pretty big deal.

It’s easy at a university like OU to brush off these types of accomplishments. I think for a lot of Sooner fans, they expect national titles and Final Four appearances. But the truth is, those types of things don’t happen as often as many think.

The men’s basketball team has never won a National Championship, the football team hasn’t won a title in nearly 10 years, and the women’s basketball team is about to make its second trip to the Final Four. So the fact that the women are one of four teams still playing is kind of a big deal.

OU fans worship Sam Bradford and Blake Griffin, and rightfully so. They’ve both done marvelous things not just for their respec-

tive teams, but for the university as well.

However, Courtney Paris’ accomplishments are right up there with them, and in some ways more impressive, and right now she still has a chance to do something neither Bradford or Griffin have yet: win a National Championship. With Connecticut in the way it won’t be easy, but the Sooners are still alive.

And so, women’s basketball is worth watching, simply because OU is doing something special right now. I liken it to the year the Dallas Stars won the Stanley Cup. I’m by no means a hockey fan, but as a Dallas native, I was definitely watching the playoffs that year.

It’s the same thing now. Women’s basketball isn’t my favorite sport, and I’m not afraid to admit that. But the women’s basketball team is in the Final Four for only the second time in its history. And for that, I’ll be watching.

STEVEN JONES IS A LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION JUNIOR AND THE DAILY’S SPORTS EDITOR.

Flores named a finalist for Player of the Year

Weekend’s baseball game to show on Cox

Junior shortstop Amber Flores has been named a finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

Flores is one of 25 finalists and has been one of OU’s best offensive AMBER players this FLORES season. Flores has hit .442 this season, with 41 RBIs and 42 runs scored.

Flores also has an on-base percentage of .620 and has a slugging percentage of .874.

The list of 25 finalists will be narrowed down to 10 on May 6 and the award will be announced on May 20.

The No. 10 baseball team will be in Missouri this weekend to take on the Tigers, but Sooner fans will still be able to catch the action.

OU’s game on Saturday against Missouri will be televised live in the Oklahoma City area on Cox channel 7 and on channel 3.

First pitch for the game is at 2 p.m.

OU has a total of six televised games expected this season, and Saturday’s game is the third that has been played so far.

The Sooners three-game series will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in Columbia, Mo.

Men’s golf gets 16th at Texas-hosted tourney The men’s golf team finished in 16th place at the Morris Williams Intercollegiate in Austin, Texas Tuesday.

The Sooners finished with an overall score of + 80.

The best round for OU came from junior Ben Blundell who finished in 42nd, with a score of + 18 on the 54-hole tournament.

Redshirt freshman Riley Pumphrey finished the round two shots behind Blundell, finishing tied for 50th with a + 20.

Oklahoma State won the tournament, torching the field and winning going away, taking a 25-shot win.

Individually, OSU’s Morgan Hoffman and Tom Glissmeyere from USC finished tied for first, shooting -1 for the tournament.

OU will be in action April 10-11 at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, Ariz.

The tournament will finish off the Sooners’ regular-season.

Paris receives another All-American honor One day after being named to the AP All-American first team, senior center Courtney Paris was named to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-America Team Wednesday.

With the honor, Paris becomes the first man or woman to receive the recognition four times.

The anCOURTNEY nouncement PARIS comes a day after Paris became the first women’s basketball player to be named to the AP AllAmerican team four times.

This season, Paris has averaged 15.9 points and 13.5 rebounds per game in leading OU to its first Final Four appearance since 2002.

Paris also recently became the first player in men’s or women’s basketball to record 2,500 points and 2,000 rebounds in a career.

The Sooners will play Louisville at 6 p.m. Sunday in St. Louis.

— DAILY STAFF

Student Research + Performance Day Saturday 4 April 2009 10:00am to 3:00pm National Weather Center 120 David L. Boren Boulevard Norman, OK 73072 Hosted by

The Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon

Honors College Graduate College K20 Center Graduate Student Senate

Come celebrate the discoveries of undergraduate and graduate students as they share their research results and demonstrate their creative talents at the annual Student Research and Performance Day.

For more information or accomodations on the basis of disability, contact the Honors College at 325-5291 or the Graduate College at 325-3811.

4B

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Luke Atkinson, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu phone: 325-5189, fax: 325-6051 For more, go to oudaily.com.

Life & Arts

Chelsea Garza/The Daily

Clothing from the “Opolis” is displayed across a table. Former students Zac Holland and Pat Waddell design and create vintage clothing for several campuses across the state and hope to continue to expand.

‘Opolis’ clothing bringing back vintage look • Former students create own clothing line, hold contest for design LAURA PEDEN The Oklahoma Daily Comfortable, unique, vintage.

These are the words Waddell uses to describe his clothing line, “Opolis.”

Zac Holland and Pat Waddell, the company’s co-owners, attended the University of Oklahoma.

Although their majors had nothing to do with business – Waddell majored in engineering while Holland majored in film and video studies – the partners were inspired to start their own clothing line after coming to the realization that there weren't any vintage T-shirt companies in the area.

“I've always been into vintage clothing and there was nothing out there for university appar-

el,” Holland said.

The clothing line “Opolis,” a shortened form of the word metropolis, includes clothing for all ages. Onesies, vintage tees, zip-hoodies and pants are available for children, while hoodies and vintage tees are offered in adult sizes.

The company uses Alternative Apparel as their main supplier for clothing, and prices range anywhere from $26 to $66. The “Opolis” clothing line is sold at Cayman's, Stella Ray's and Tiny Tulips.

Waddell portrays their clothing as “high end, vintage, boutique-style apparel.” The clothing line apparel would be the perfect type of clothing to wear for everyday Sooner life – basketball games, football games, class and hanging out in general.

When asked how they design the artwork for the clothing, Waddell said he and Holland look around at magazines for ideas and inspirations.

Waddell designs their ideas and artwork through the program Photoshop.

All of this is done in their own homes by the only two workers in the company.

Their goal is to ultimately get an office to work

out of and increase the amount of workers for the clothing line.

Holland and Waddell said expanision is one of the biggest hopes. Currently, “Opolis” sells University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State apparel to Norman, Oklahoma City and Tulsa stores. However, the company plans on extending their clothing line to include Kansas, Kansas State and Arkansas apparel after receiving their collegiate license.

Holland and Waddell don't plan on stopping there. After that, they would eventually like to make vintage T-shirts for all major universities throughout the United States.

Although making vintage T-shirts for all major universities may seem like a daunting goal to achieve, it is clear that Holland and Waddell are fully willing and determined to make it happen. It has been their goal for some time and is one they don't intend on letting go easily.

To further their goals and appeal to more customers, “Opolis” is having a t-shirt design contest. According to opolisclothing.com, contestants are asked to submit their own University of Oklahoma or Oklahoma State vintage T-shirt

“I've always been into vintage clothing and there was nothing out there for university apparel.”

– Zac Holland design to pat@opolisclothing.com or mail the design to the address listed on the website.

One winner will be picked on June 15, 2009.

They will win $100 worth of “Opolis” merchandise and will see their design on vintage t-shirts for the fall 2009 line. All designs must be submitted by May 31, 2009 to be considered, so Holland and Waddell hope to see Sooners getting to work and generating new ideas for the clothing line.

For more information on the contest, be sure to check out the website, opolisclothing.com.

Life & Arts

Thursday, April 2, 2009

5B

STAFF COLUMN

Twitter noob fter much self-debate, I have become a Tweeter.

Or is it Twitterer?

About two weeks ago, I took the step of entering the 1984-esque Internet community known as Twitter.

At first, I didn’t realize KATIE why anyone PARKER would want to know what on God’s green earth I was doing, which would probably read something like this: KatieJParker: Waking up an hour after I set my alarm to realize I haven’t done anything for my project that’s due today. Now picking my nose and figuring out an escape plan. Updated 1 hour ago from web.

KatieJParker: Wondering when I will actually be able to make a living out of this whole “journalism� thing. Updated 10 minutes ago from web.

KatieJParker: @KJPsFriend: We need to drink heavily in celebration of graduating into the worst economy in 100 years and me being stupid enough to choose to do the “journalism� thing. Updated 7 minutes ago from web.

See what I said? I’m not terribly interesting when it comes to the day-to-day monotony. So, why then would anyone want to “follow� me?

Now, two weeks later, I’m still not sure if I have mastered the technique of Twitter perfectly, but I have made some observations.

Day 1: I quickly decided to follow every friend and media outlet’s account. I now feel that I am up to date all current events.

I even joined Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City’s account, even though I’m not moving to New York City until May. Now, at any hour, I am alerted about sick customers and changes in subway routes. I also follow

A

photo provided

Arlene (Kristen Stewart, left) and James (Jesse Eisenberg, right) share a bite to eat at the amusement park in the film “Adventureland.� The film opens tomorrow.

MOVIE Q&A

Growing up in a theme park Expectations for “Adventureland� are high among fans of the vulgar and quirky teen film “SuperBad� and director Greg Mottola knows it. “Adventureland� begins as a regular day of youthful summer misadventures that go awry. Thanks to a raucous cast, more than 40 pop tunes that anchor the action in the late ‘80s and characters who get high both on and off their jobs at a tacky amusement park, this film may live up to its predecessor.

The film opens tomorrow.

You’ve done a lot of work with Michael Cera, but in this film, you’ve replaced him. Why? Greg Mottola: I guess the best I can say is that I’m attracted to really awkward people. Which says more about me than I think it does about either Jesse or Michael.

I actually knew of Jesse as an actor before I ever met Michael Cera. And as much as I love Michael, I actually felt Jesse was more appropriate for this movie. Jesse is a little more neurotic, a little bit older. Not quite as innocent as Michael.

“SuperBad� was a biographical film based on Seth Rogen’s high school years. Is this film about your experiences?

Greg Mottola: There is a lot of the world of the people I grew up with. You know, silly people and also people I really still love and care about. 60 percent of the movie is at the park, so I tried to make it look like the way I remembered Adventureland.

What are some of the inspirations you have to create projects like these?

Greg Mottola: I’ve read scripts that I thought were really good scripts, and there were movies I’d like to see. But I didn’t think I in particular had something to bring to it that was special.

And I don’t want that to sound like false humility, it’s just really just more a sense of that it’s a hard job.

And truth be told, SuperBad was one of the ďŹ rst scripts I ever read that I thought, “I know how to do this.â€? I could see this movie in my mind, and I have to do that it like what I think wouldn’t be exactly like everything else.

Was “Caddyshack� an influence in “Adventureland?�

Greg Mottola: I deďŹ nitely was thinking about “Caddy Shackâ€? when I was writing it. I was also thinking about Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Because they were really funny scenes of people working really, really crappy jobs in that movie.

Judge Reinhold has to like work at a couple of dierent fast food joints throughout the movie. And then most of the other characters work at this mall. And they worked really embarrassing jobs at the mall.

And both those movies when they came out - there is something about that like, rite of passage of humiliating summer job.

It’s just, you know, if you were the guy who had to do it, you so appreciate the movie that tells your story.

LUKE ATKINSON IS A BROADCAST AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA JUNIOR.

# " % " %' # " % " %' % ! " &+ # # + " #% % ! " &+ # # + " #%

# " % " %'

# " % " %'

& # " (& & # " (& % ' " ' % %' * % % $ "' " % ' " '

% %' * % % $ "' % ! " &+ # # + " #%

% ! " &+ # # + " #%

# " % " %' # " # " " %' % ! " &+ # # + " #% % ! " &+ # % ! " &++ # # + # + " #% ++ " #%

(%& + $% (%& + $%

$ ! $ ! %+ + " % #" & ( '#% (! %+ + " % #" & ( '#% (! % #" & % (& (! # %' % #" & % (& (! # %' ! ) "( ! ) "( ( , ' () " ( $ - ) " ) ' *" $ %) *# %$%'( ) " ) ( , ' () " ( $ - ) " ) ' *" $ %) *# %$%'( ) " ) '" " ') %'# ' & ! ' % ) $ ) ) ) ( %*( % &' ( $) ) + ( $ '" " ') %'# ' & ! ' % ) $ ) ) ) ( %*( % &' ( $) ) + ( $

"*#$*( "*#$*( %' %##% ) %$( %$ ) ( ( % ( " )- %$) ) ' - ' %' %##% ) %$( %$ ) ( ( % ( " )- %$) ) ' - ' " ) " )

The Economist, even though, I have never physically touched the publication in my life. This is fascinating.

Day 2: Why do people I don’t know want to follow me? This is creepy. I decided to change my account to private.

Day 3: I suddenly realized I decided to follow too many things and people, and could not keep up with the several hundred posts flowing across the page every hour. I contemplated deleting several accounts, but I felt that defeated the purpose of Twitter: to be an omnipresent being in other people’s and things’ actions. It is kind of like being God — except, unfortunately, people get to choose what they tell you. So until GodTwitter 1.0 rolls around, this is as good as it gets.

Day 7: I got to see Demi Moore’s butt in a bikini on Ashton Kutcher’s account and read the ramblings of John Mayer. Most of this was trivial, and I suddenly realized how stupid it was that I actually wasted 15 minutes reading that stuff.

Day 10: I decided to make myself an Urban Dictionary and invent the word “Tweemo,�

(I’m sure I’m not the first, but for this article I am) which is a noun describing those who tweet about the pedantic things in life (i.e. I’m so annoyed that I have to like do things like live and breathe and stuff).

I have three words for Tweemos: Get over it.

Day 14: I’ve learned the key to mastering Twitter is simply checking and updating the thing constantly.

After two weeks, I still don’t think people are particularly concerned with my choice of a soy latte at Starbucks and preoccupation with searching my nasal cavity for hidden treasure.

I do think, however, Twitter is the next step toward generating a way that our generation will hopefully stay more informed as we evolve to Orwell’s Newspeak premonition.

Follow me at KatieJParker.

KATIE PARKER IS A JOURNALISM SENIOR.

Classifieds

Thursday, April 2, 2009

PLACE AN AD Phone 405.325.2521

E-Mail classifieds@ou.edu

Fax

C Transportation AUTO INSURANCE

Auto Insurance Quotations Anytime Foreign Students Welcomed Jim Holmes Insurance, 321-4664

405.325.7517

Office Copeland Hall 149A

Mail The Oklahoma Daily 860 Van Vleet Oval, 149A Norman OK 73019-2052

DEADLINES Line Ad. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 a.m.

Place your classified line ad by 9 a.m., Monday-Friday to run in the next issue.

Display Ad. . . . .3 days prior Classified Display or Classified Card Ad are due 3 days prior to publication date.

PAYMENT s r

r

TM

Payment Payment is required at the time the ad is placed. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express; cash, money orders or local checks accepted.

Credit Accounts Businesses may be eligible for credit in a limited, local billing area. Please inquire with Business Office at 405.325.2521.

RATES Line Ads Rates are determined by the price per line, per day. There is a two line minimum charge; approximately 40 characters per line, including spaces and punctuation.

1 day ............. $4.25/line 2 days ........... $2.50/line 3-4 days........ $2.00/line 5-9 days........ $1.50/line 10-14 days.... $1.15/line 15-19 days.... $1.00/line 20-29 days.... $ .90/line 30+ days ..... $ .85/line

Employment HELP WANTED STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.

THE MONT Now accepting applications for the following positions: SERVERS-must be available for day shifts beginning at 10:30 am, experience preferred HOSTESS must be available nights and weekends. Apply in person M-F, 11am to Noon, 1300 Classen Make up to $75 per online survey, student opinions needed www.cashtospend.com.

Eskimo Sno NOW HIRING for ALL locations Fun & Energetic people for Spring/Summer Full/Part Time. Must be able to work weekends and have reliable transportation.

Summer Bonuses available. Call 321-SNOW or come by Eastside store @ 867 12th Ave NE Part time and full time help wanted. $7-10 per hour. Fun work environment selling top name brands such as Toms, Sperry, Chaco, Nike, etc.

Apply in person at Tradehome Shoes in Sooner Mall or call 321-4652.

GREAT STUDENT JOB Part time leasing agent, M-F Rotating Sats. Pay based on experience.

Must be friendly & detail oriented.

Apply at 2900 Chautauqua Or call 360-6624 for more info.

MERCURY POST & PARCEL needs p/t customer assistant. Apply at 121 24th Ave NW. Traditions Spirits is seeking a motivated, energetic, and personable Bar Supervisor for Riverwind Casino. The ideal candidate must: have at least 1 year experience in high volume club, hotel, or resort; be skilled in staff management; be knowledgeable of wine and spirits, and have open availability. Apply in person at 2813 SE 44th, Norman or email resume to michelle.snider@traditionsspirits.com 405-392-4550 BILL’S RESTAURANT Now hiring part time servers. Apply in person.

1101 Elm St. 364-2530.

GREAT STUDENT JOB Part-Time Leasing Agent 12:45pm-6pm M-F, Rotating Sats.

Pay based on experience.

Must be friendly & detail oriented.

Apply at 2900 Chautauqua Or call 360-6624 for more info

Employment HELP WANTED Errands/Office Help. Part time M-F. Flexible hours 10+. Medical Spa. Email resume to firstglance@att.net. Fax 928-2114, phone 9282099.

CAYMAN’S seeks part time Sales Associates.

Must be motivated, fashion-driven, self-starter with excellent customer service skills. Some Saturdays and holidays required. Apply in person 2001 West Main.

Now hiring lifeguard, swim instructors, and AM pool managers. Apply at the Cleveland County Family YMCA, 1350 Lexington Ave. EOE. Bartending! Up to $250/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520, x133.

Patient needed for dental hygiene exam. Pays $250. Call 817-714-3236 for details.

J Housing Rentals

J

CONDOS UNFURNISHED

CONDOS

Summer Rent Slashed in 1/2!

Leasing 1-4 bdrms, amenities galore, The Edge Call Iris, 303-550-5554

HOUSES UNFURNISHED 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 1 mile east of campus!New carpet and paint, fridge, w/d included. Pets okay, $825/mo. Call 637-7427.

NEAR OU, 915 W Lindsey. 1/2 bd, 1 ba, NO PETS, $500 per mo.

NEAR OU, 1104 Grover Ln. 2 bd, car garage, CHA, W/D, stove, refrigerator, microwave, compactor, NO PETS, $800 per mo.

NEAR OU, 707 Juniper. 3 bd, 2 ba, CH/A, W/D Carport, Garage, NO PETS, Ref Required.

211 W Symmes, 4 bd, 2 bth, CH/A, wd, dw, $1500/mo, security dep, no pets, 719-748-5141

PAID. EGG DONORS for up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com

NICE 3-4 bd, 2.25 ba. 929 Branchwood, $750.

1621 Chaucer, $850. 826 Jona Kay, $950. 2326 Lindenwood, $1150. Call 360-2873 or 306-1970

APTS. FURNISHED $400, bills paid, efficiency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, fire sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store office.

Need Peace and Quiet?

Large, private studio. Furnished, bills paid incl basic cable, near I-35 & Hwy 9. $375/mo, $200 dep. 360-9983 (W) 639-7571 (C) or suzanne. wyatt@yahoo.com

APTS. UNFURNISHED FREE RENT or up to $300 off First Month!

Student and Military Discounts Models open 8:30-5:30 M-F; 10-4 Sat 1-2 bedroom apts/townhomes with washer/dryer hookups in 2 bedrooms. Pets Welcome! Free Tanning! Immediate Move-in! Two locations, Apple Creek and Hillcrest Estates Call us at 329-2438 or 360-2048 or look us up online at apartmentguide.com 1 BLK FROM OU, very nice 4 room apt, 800 sf, wood floors, 1016 S College, Apt 1, $295/mo.

Call 360-2873 or 306-1970.

P/L Now for Summer & Fall! *Free Membership at Steel Fitness! $99 Deposit! No Application Fee! Models open 8a-8p Everyday!

Elite Properties 360-6624 or www.elite2900.com

AVAILABLE IN MAY A short walk to OU, 1-5 blks west of OU, nice brick homes, wood floors, CH/A, w/d, disposal, good parking.

3 Bdrm $750-$1500 2 Bdrm $600-$800 1 Bdrm $420-$460 MISTER ROBERT FURNITURE 9-4 pm, Mon-Sat, 321-1818 Clean 3 bdrm, 1 bath near campus, big yard, fireplace, basement, $800/mo. 447-8313.

TOWNHOUSES UNFURNISHED Taylor Ridge Townhomes 2 Bdrm, 2.5 Bath, Fully Renovated Townhomes near OU! Pets Welcome! • Call for current rates and Move-in Specials!!!

Taylor Ridge Townhomes (405) 310-6599

NEAR OU, privacy, $250, bills paid includes cable, neat, clean, parking. Prefer male student.

Call 329-0143.

oudaily.com

8 2 1

3

Previous Solution

1

5 6 3 9 7 2 8 1 4

5 9

7

9 4 8

6

8

3 7

6

6 7 1 5

3

1 4 7 6 3 8 2 9 5

2 9 8 5 1 4 7 6 3

6 2 1 8 9 3 5 4 7

7 8 5 4 6 1 3 2 9

9 3 4 7 2 5 6 8 1

4 5 9 2 8 7 1 3 6

3 7 2 1 4 6 9 5 8

8 1 6 3 5 9 4 7 2

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Edited by Timothy E. Parker April 02, 2009

ACROSS 1 Island in Indonesia 5 MX-5, on the road 10 Norman or Brady 14 Ardor 15 “Conspiracy of Fools” topic 16 Great thing to be on 17 Renders suspect 19 “And another thing …”

20 How some beg 21 Admiration 23 “Dirty” Cajun dish 24 Homesteader’s stake 25 There are 160 in a quarter section 27 Comes into one’s own 30 Which cheek to turn?

31 Word with “booby” or “sand” 32 Aberdeen’s river 33 Unexpected attack 34 Engine buildup 35 Small price to pay 36 Plumber’s connection 37 The Hatfields and the McCoys, e.g.

38 Shopaholics’

Game Sponsorships Classified Display Ads located directly above the following games/puzzles. Limited spaces available – only one space per game.

The onset of eye disease may not be as visible as the appearance of new wrinkles. An eye doctor can spot the early warning signs of vision problems like glaucoma and macular

The Oklahoma Daily is responsible for one day’s incorrect advertising. If your ad appears incorrectly, or if you wish to cancel your ad, call 405.325.2521 before the deadline for cancellation in the next issue. Refunds will not be issued for early cancellation.

Errors not the fault of the advertiser will be adjusted.

The Oklahoma Daily will not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious preference, national origin or sexual orientation. Violations of this policy should be reported to The Oklahoma Daily Business Office.

Help Wanted ads in The Oklahoma Daily are not classified as to gender.

Advertisers understand that they may not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion or gender unless such qualifying factors are essential to a given position.

All ads are subject to acceptance by The Oklahoma Daily. Ad acceptance may be re-evaluated at any time.

2

3 4

Universal Crossword

Classified Card Ads are $170 per column inch with a minimum of 2 column inchs and run 20 consecutive issues. Ad copy may change every five issues.

POLICY

9 7

ROOMS FURNISHED

Classified Card Ads

(located just below the puzzle)

Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.

805C Cardinal Creek Condo’s, 2 bdrm, 2 bth gated community, pool, weight room, on-site washer/dryer, close to campus, nice enviroment to study, overlooks OU golf course $585/mo. Call (580) 763-4278

Rates are $16.00 per column inch, per day with a minimum of 2 column inches.

1 col (1.833 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword .....$515/month

A drunk driver ruined something precious. Amber Apodaca.

4 bdrm house (incl servants apt). 4 blocks west of OU. Wood floors, CH/A, W/D, DW. Deck, good parking, no pets. $2000/mo. Call Bob 321-1818.

Classified Display Ads

2 col (3.792 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ...........$760/month Boggle............$760/month Jumble ...........$760/month Horoscope .....$760/month

Edge Condo, 4 bd/ 4 bath, $126,900 - 1st time homebuyers: $8000 tax rebate Call Carol Lindley 401-0246 - Dillard Group

Contact: 329-1933 or 550-7069

$5,000-$45,000

J Housing Rentals

Housing Sales

Photo by Michael Mazzeo

6B

R.T. Conwell, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu phone: 325-2521, fax: 325-7517 For more, go to oudaily.com.

degeneration, as well as other serious health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Early detection is key.

For men and women over 40, it might be wise to look into your eyes. For more information, visit checkyearly.com.

A public service message from Vision Council of America and AARP.

Save a Life.

destinations 39 Having a finger in every pie 41 Western loop 42 Appears 43 Columnist Barrett 44 Common airline carry-on 46 Meathead, to Archie 50 A.A. Fair’s real first name 51 Old West transport 53 Glum drop?

54 More than merely ready 55 Jasmine or morning glory, e.g.

56 Verbalizes 57 Isn’t supporting on stage 58 Resurgently DOWN 1 Call partner 2 “Cry, the Beloved Country” author Paton 3 Emit coherent light 4 Encrypted?

5 Front physicians 6 “… two mints ___!”

7 Cut ___ (dance) 8 Get from A ___ 9 Deer playmate, in song

10 Without charge 11 They’re often emulated 12 It can come after “no one” or “someone” 13 ___ onto (grab hold of) 18 Comparatively cunning 22 Talk trash to 24 Smackers 25 “… and thereby hangs ___” 26 A cinch 27 Part of BYOB 28 Edison’s park 29 Emulates the sun, in a way 30 Neighbor of Provo 31 Mission start?

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate www.upuzzles.com

“BRAVO!” by Judith Kramer

Call the Hotline at

325-5000

to report hazing, illegal or unsafe drinking.

All calls are anonymous.

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

Previous Answers

34 Sneaks a peek 35 Legendary lover 37 1963 Liz Taylor role 38 Word with “depressive” 40 Dissuade 41 Extreme introverts 43 Received, at NASA 44 “Oh, why not?”

45 Neck of the woods 46 Long historical novel 47 Anagram for nail 48 Pimples on pupils 49 Exclamation of exertion 52 Tit for ___

Details

Thursday, April 2, 2009

ACKYďšşWAY EWSďšşNAY

NO APRIL FOOL’S JOKE: BRAZILIAN MAN SURVIVES SPEAR IN SKULL

Jobless gather for Unemployment Olympics in NYC NEW YORK — Who hasn’t secretly wished he could pin the blame on his boss? Or slam oďŹƒce equipment against the pavement?

Dozens of unemployed people got the chance to do exactly that during the tongue-in-cheek Unemployment Olympics on Tuesday.

In a twist on the classic game Pin the Tail on the Donkey, participants pulled a hat over their eyes and spun around before using a pushpin to attempt to Pin the Blame on the Boss. Those who missed the target sometimes hit some of the other options scrawled on the colorful sign: The War, ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages), Consumer Spending, The FED and The Economy.

The Manhattan event, organized by a laid-o computer programmer, was decidedly low-tech, with most games arranged with the help of cardboard, children’s paint and chalk.

Competitors also played a game of OďŹƒce-Phone Skee-Ball, hurling a black phone toward chalk goal marks on the pavement. A group of schoolchildren from nearby cheered them on.

Prizes were oered by merchants from the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood.

Nick McGlynn was among those who lined up at Tompkins Square Park in front of a cardboard hutch labeled with bright green paint as the Unemployment OďŹƒce, where participants were required to show proof they had lost their jobs.

The 26-year-old, who worked with video for Gawker Media until he was let go in November, said he was thrilled to have something to do besides searching the Internet and updating his blog.

The gaiety of the event was enough to make Maria Tapia smile, a welcome relief from the anxiety that accompanied her layo in January from a job as a ďŹ nance executive’s personal assistant. “I never knew that I wanted a job this bad until I didn’t have a job,â€? Tapia said.

But at least at these simple games, “people are trying to look at it in a positive way,� she said.

The organizer, Nick Goddard, said that sort of reversal was pretty much his aim: “Just to get unemployed people psyched that they’re unemployed,� he said.

That might be pushing it for 36-year-old Gary Ross, standing at the park outďŹ tted for a race just a few weeks after being told he was losing his job as a lawyer working with capital markets. “I did read the other day that all the cool people in New York are unemployed and looking,â€? he said. “For the ďŹ rst time in my life I’m cool. Hopefully I won’t be cool for long.â€?

UC San Diego sends invite to rejected students SAN DIEGO — The University of California, San Diego says it accidentally sent an e-mail invitation to every student who applied for the school’s incoming freshman class — including the 29,000 who had been rejected.

UCSD Admissions Director Mae Brown said Tuesday that the message sent Monday was supposed to be sent to about 18,000 accepted students, not all 47,000 applicants. The invitation was for a day on campus.

She says she later sent a mass e-mail apologizing for the confusion.

Brown says the mailing was sent to rejected applicants because of a technical error. She says no one has been disciplined for the error.

Brown says the admission sta has been ďŹ elding calls from parents and distraught students who had received rejection letters in mid-March.

Airline worker flies NY to Boston in baggage hold BOSTON — A JetBlue employee says he took a free ight from New York to Boston — after falling asleep in a plane’s cargo bin.

The man was discovered by baggage handlers at Logan International Airport after the plane landed there Saturday. He told police he’d been accidentally locked inside the pressurized luggage compartment while taking a nap.

The 21-year-old man says he called JetBlue Airways oďŹƒcials when he realized he was no longer on the ground.

A state police spokesman says the man wasn’t charged with any crime and was returned to New York when it was determined he wasn’t dangerous.

JetBlue Airways Corp. says it’s investigating.

Ark. man accused of drunken joy ride in stolen bus EL DORADO, Ark. — Police in Arkansas say a drunken man stole a parked school bus and then asked a woman if she wanted to go for a ride.

Police say 44-year-old Joseph P. Fannin faces theft and driving while intoxi-

AP Photo/The Connecticut Post, Brian A. Pounds

Iris Bergeron, an employee of Purr-Fect Pets in Milford, Conn. holds a bunny that has two noses Tuesday in Milford, Conn. A pet shop worker found the bizarre bunny in a delivery of 6-week-old dwarf rabbits that arrived at the Milford store last week. Both noses have two nostrils.

cated charges for the incident Friday night. He remains held on $5,000 bond.

Police say Fannin took an El Dorado School District bus parked near a bar and left it in a motel driveway. They say a woman called them after Fannin asked if she wanted a ride.

Police say Fannin told them he’d been kicked out of the bar and got into the bus because it was “a warm, dry place.�

The school district says the driver was out of town and that the keys must’ve been left behind.

The public defender’s oďŹƒce didn’t immediately return a message left Wednesday.

Twin twitchers: Conn. pet shop has 2-nosed bunny MILFORD, Conn. — It’s no April Fools joke. The baby bunny really does have two noses.

A Connecticut pet shop worker found the nosey bunny in a delivery of 6-weekold dwarf rabbits that arrived at the Milford store last week. Both noses have two nostrils.

The owner of the Purr-Fect Pets shop says he’s never seen anything like it in 25 years in the business. He says the bunny eats, drinks and hops around like the rest of the litter.

Beardsley Zoo director Gregg Dancho says the deformity could be the result of too much inbreeding or the parents’ exposure to pesticides or poisons.

Store workers have begun a naming contest with Cyrano de Bergerac and Deuce among the contenders so far.

— AP

CAMPUS NOTES TODAY

FRIDAY

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Department of Economics will host a lecture by Barbara R. Bergmann, “The Decline of Marriage: Economic Consequences and What We Can Do about Them,� at 7:30 p.m. in the National Weather Center.

The International Advisory Committee will host Eve of Nations at 7 p.m. in Lloyd Noble Center.

The event includes an international fashion show and a formal dinner. Tickets are $5-$16.

UNIVERSITY THEATRE The Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre will present “Baby� at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center.

MASQUERADE BALL The Sooner Ballroom Dance Club will host a masquerade ball at 7 p.m. at the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Molly Shi Boren Ballroom. The cost is $6 for singles and $10 for couples.

POLICE REPORTS Names are compiled from the Norman Police Department and OUPD. The reports serve as a record of arrests and citations, not convictions. Those listed are innocent until proven guilty.

POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Michael Antonio Guerrero, 39, I-35, Tuesday

POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE James Michael Jump, 31, I-35, Tuesday

Log on to OUDaily.com for news, sports, opinion and more seven days a week.

8IZ i800%w JU XIFO ZPV DBO i45&&-w JU

COUNTY WARRANT Michael Aaron Lawson, 26, 2420 Classen Blvd., Tuesday Niketa Nishell Porter, 39, 1863 W. Main St., Tuesday

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Kimberly A. Rasha, 24, 221 E. Hayes St., Tuesday

LITTERING Tori Beth Rose, 25, Monday 816 E. Hayes St.

ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN A CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE WITH A FORGED PRESCRIPTION Jenna Marie Warner, 23, 615 W. Main St., Tuesday

7B

# 1+ )&)+,

!

&$

# 1+ )&)+,

&$

!

# &/ &.'"

&$

Engineered 0VS 3JHJE 'SBNF &YQSFTT #VJMEJOHT DBO CF SFBEZ Truss JO XFFLT * * Buildings * *

# ,,)+-"!

)&)+,

* *

&$

* *

!

Check our website for carports! #)%##! #(%& )(! 1 +%! 1 ' * ' '"+% ( 1 2 $ 0(""

&& )&& +""

))) " # ' & #! 2 , &", %(! )'"- &, )'

AP Photo/Ricardo Moraes

No April Fool’s joke: The CAT scan of Emerson de Oliveira Abreu, a man who came to the hospital with a spear stuck in his head after a diving accident, is shown on a monitor at the Adao Pereira Nunes state hospital Wednesday in Duque de Caxias, Brazil. After doctors surgically removed the 6-inch (15-centimeter) spear from his brain, Abreu is in stable condition.

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

Thursday, April 2, 2009 ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Someone who had promised to pitch in might not be available at the moment you need this person’s help. However, an effective backup is apt to happen along just at the right time.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You’re far better equipped to handle challenging developments than you think.

Don’t let self-doubt or a lack of appreciation for your intellect impede your forward motion.

Trust your abilities.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- If you discover a proposition has some troubling points, talk to the promoter about changing what’s bothering you. Chances are this person hadn’t realized it and will agree.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- If you believe that an unfair portion of the work in a joint endeavor is being dumped on you, don’t let things fester. Speak up, and get the needed adjustments made immediately.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Should a supporter willing to help you achieve an objective become more of a hindrance than a help, don’t hesitate to find a nice way to say “thanks� and send this person packing.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Tenacity and persistence are the most essential ingredients needed for success. If you don’t make them your primary tools, there’s a good chance you’ll fail.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’re an exceptionally sensitive person, so it stands to reason that, even when someone deserves criticism, your choice of words will be kind and considerate. This ability will serve you well.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- There is a good chance you’ll operate at both ends of the spectrum when it comes to handling your financial affairs.

It’s OK, as long as prudence outweighs extravagance.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Be careful not to get caught LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- As long up in an arrangement where the as you aren’t tempted to stray leaders aren’t sharing all the from using your regular sources critical information. You don’t or channels, your probabilities for want to be held accountable for success are good. Stick to what what you didn’t know. is familiar, and you won’t be disappointed.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Make sure that you adjust your VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -initial judgment and/or You’ll be true to your emotions. understanding of a critical Friends will find you a warm and situation if certain factors are charming person, but when it changed later on. Don’t assume comes to dealing with those who the end results will remain the have offended you lately, it’ll be same. a different story.

8B

Life & Arts

Thursday, April 2, 2009

▲

WEEKEND UPDATE the boss is back

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will perform Tuesday at the BOK Center in Tulsa. Tickets are $41 to $91.

also in music B.B. King will perform at 7 p.m.

Tuesday at the Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino. Tickets are $50.

▲ regressive progression

▲

▲

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" will screen at 4 and 10:30 p.m. Friday in Meacham Auditorium. mud masks

another all-american

Visit the Union food court from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday to enjoy free massages and more at Spa Night.

Parents are welcome! Be sure to bring your OU ID!

▲ to protect and serve Catch “Observe and Report” at 7 p.m.

Friday in Meachamn Auditorium.

The All-American Rejects will perform with Shiny Toy Guns at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Brady Theater in Tulsa. Tickets are $28.

NORMAN MUSIC FESTIVAL BRIEFS Black Angels drop out of fest The Black Angels, one of the main acts performing on the festival’s “Main Stage,” has withdrawn from the Norman Music Festival.

Holly Jones, Norman Music Festival publicity chair, said the band would be traveling back to L.A. because of a “scheduling conflict.”

At the moment, the NMF is planning to fill the open spot and is currently looking for acts.

Promotional pre-fest show set Musicians Ali Harter, Pretty Black Chains and Z’ebre along with comedians Cameron Buchholtz and Derek Smith will perform at The Opolis at 10 p.m. Saturday, April 4.

The proceeds will benefit the festival and give fans of the fest an early taste of the concerts.

Pandora adds NMF to list of featured festivals There are only eight music festivals featured on the Pandora.com festivals Web page and the Norman Music Festival is one of them.

“We are unbelievably excited for our second annual music festival to be featured among other long standing festivals around the country,” said Holly Jones, publicity chair for the Norman Music Festival.

“We are featured below the Bonnaroo and next to the Cochella festival stations on Pandora, a perfect position for us. ” Now from any computer, fans of NMF can listen to the bands who are performing later this month at the second annual NMF, http://www.pandora.com/festivals.

– DAILY STAFF REPORTS

Rusty’s 8th Birthday Celebration!

• Custard Specials

JOIN THE CELEBRATION!

• Door Prizes

SATURDAY, APRIL 4TH

BUY 1, GET 1

• Win free custard for a year!

11am-11pm

FREE

NORMAN MOORE East: 12th & Alameda East: Main & Eastern West: 24th & Main West: 134th & Western

Regular 1 Topping

Concrete Please present coupon before ordering.

Not Valid with any other offer or coupon.

One per coupon. Expires April 30, 2009

John Fulbright on Tuesday Nights at 10:30 Sexy TimeTrivia Time Trivia April 16th 5-8pm Campus Corner 584 Buchanan Norman, OK 73069 364-FOOD (3663) justinsbistroandbar.com

Bring this coupon in and

OU Students and Parents recieve

10% off 1200 12th Ave SE Norman, OK (405) 701-1868